North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently inspected the nearly completed Gangdong County Hospital. He made no mention of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent overtures.
The Workers’ Party of Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Friday that Kim visited the Gangdong County Hospital, which is nearing completion, on the previous day. Party Secretary Jo Yong-won accompanied him during the inspection.
Kim toured various areas of the hospital, including the underground parking lot, patient rooms, operating theaters, and doctors’ offices, to gain a detailed understanding of the construction progress. He issued directives for the responsible execution of medical equipment assembly and deployment in November, and outlined tasks for preparing the hospital’s operations.
The North Korean leader stressed that the exemplary experiences and creative spirit demonstrated in the Gangdong County Hospital project should be swiftly applied to construction units at all levels nationwide. He emphasized the need to vigorously advance the country’s health modernization plans to the highest quality standards. Kim underscored that safeguarding citizens’ lives and promoting their health should be the top priority among all national affairs.
Kim further stated that a key objective of the health sector modernization plan is to construct modern hospitals in 20 cities and counties annually without fail. He called for decisive measures to bolster the nation’s capacity for healthcare facility construction.
The leader also revealed that upcoming plenary meetings of the party’s Central Committee will consider establishing similar modern hospitals in Pyongyang’s districts. He criticized the current national system for training health professionals as outdated and irrational, ordering a reassessment of medical education practices.
Earlier this year, Kim had directed the construction of pilot local hospitals in three areas: Gangdong County, Yonggang County, and Guseong City. He called for the annual construction of hospitals in 20 cities and counties starting next year. In September, he visited hospital construction sites in Guseong City and Nampo City, highlighting the importance of local healthcare infrastructure.
Notably, Kim’s inspection coincided with President Trump’s departure from South Korea following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Despite Trump’s expressed desire to communicate with Kim before and during his visit, North Korea has remained silent on the matter.