North Korea recently boasted about the complete facelift of its rural area, claiming that it has built over 510 new homes over the past two years.
According to the state-run media, Rodong Sinmun, 510 news houses were completed in rural villages on Tuesday since the rural development first broke ground in Solbong-ri, Kosan County, on November 15, 2022.
The report lauded North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un for taking necessary measures, including organizing construction teams and providing equipment, tools, and materials for the rural housing project. It added that Kim guided nearly 2,000 design proposals related to rural home construction.
The newspaper highlighted the first rural home project at Seolbong Farm in Kosan County, previously known for its harsh living conditions. It described the area as “a land where the ground is muddy and the winds are fierce.” The article praised the new homes as symbols of political significance, modernity, cultural value, and diversity. It emphasized that these homes represent a new pinnacle of socialist civilization and a significant advancement for the community.
Since the end of 2021, North Korea has been building new homes nationwide as part of its new rural development project. The project aims to elevate rural villages to the level of Samjiyon City in Ryanggang Province and create affluent and culturally rich socialist ideal villages.
The initiative addresses rural residents’ dissatisfaction with Pyongyang’s more wealthy residents. It also aligns with Kim’s emphasis on “people-centered” policies as part of a broader effort to secure public support. Further, construction projects are ideal for generating visible results.
Recently, the newspaper has continued its daily reports on constructing new rural homes.
It also highlighted an interview with a farm worker who received a new home in Seolbong-ri two years ago.
“It still feels like a dream,” the farmer expressed great satisfaction.
The report attributed Kim’s “brilliant leadership and bold decisions to the remarkable transformation of ordinary agricultural workers’ living environments,” proclaiming it his “grace.”