North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare public admission of the shortcomings in the country’s healthcare system during the opening ceremony of Pyongyang General Hospital. He acknowledged the lack of expertise among the healthcare professionals and announced that full operations will commence in November.
The state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun devoted its front pages to extensive coverage of the hospital’s inauguration. Kim declared the new facility to be a genuine hospital in every sense, surpassing recent healthcare projects.
Addressing the inexperience of the medical workers with modern equipment, Kim proposed a gradual approach, suggesting that the staff familiarize themselves with the equipment before launching full-scale operations in November.
The leader emphasized that overcoming stagnation in medical manufacturing and pharmaceuticals is crucial for the national health policy. He stressed the continuous need for advancements in medical science and technology, with hospitals playing a key role in this healthcare revolution.
In a surprisingly candid moment, Kim openly criticized the hospital staff uniforms. He described the initial designs as shockingly poor, likening them to white sacks. Even after subsequent redesigns, Kim expressed disappointment, comparing the new uniforms unfavorably to those worn by janitors or salon workers.
The newspaper also reported on high-profile international guests attending the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party founding. Among those paying their respects at key sites and observing military exhibitions were Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
In education news, the paper highlighted improvements in school uniforms, crediting a series of nine design reviews over the past three years for enhancing their quality.
Sports achievements were highlighted as weightlifter Lee Sook secured a triple gold medal performance at the 2025 World Championships. Lee set world records in all three categories of the 63kg (about 139 lbs) class by lifting 111kg (about 245 lbs) in the snatch, 142kg (about 313 lbs) in the clean and jerk, and a total of 253kg (about 558 lbs).
The report concluded by noting the arrival of various international delegations and overseas Koreans for the party anniversary celebrations, as well as Russian athletes for an upcoming figure skating event in Pyongyang.