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orth Korea is showcasing a new residential development in Pyongyang, its capital city, as the country emerges from five years of pandemic-induced isolation. Leader Kim Jong Un has been overseeing the construction of a 10,000-unit apartment complex in the Hwasong district, which will officially open on April 15, coinciding with the birthday of the country's late founder, Kim Il Sung.

    The project is part of a broader initiative to improve housing conditions in Pyongyang, where living standards are higher than in the rest of the impoverished nation. The development includes sleek high-rises, a connecting skybridge, and educational and commercial facilities. State media has hailed it as a "beautiful and modern urban quarter" that heralds "a new era of prosperity."

    However, beneath the polished exterior, challenges persist. Chronic electricity shortages render elevators inoperable, prompting authorities to assign younger residents to upper floors while reserving lower levels for the elderly. Despite this, the apartments offer a higher quality of life than elsewhere in North Korea.

    The construction drive extends beyond Pyongyang to rural and mining areas, where housing remains scarce. Only 70-80% of households nationwide have adequate shelter, with many rural homes lacking basic utilities. The project relies heavily on the nation's military and civilian laborers working in grueling conditions.

    Pyongyang has seen similar projects in recent years, including a 70-story building completed in just 74 days. However, concerns about structural integrity linger, underscored by a 2014 apartment collapse blamed on "sloppy building" and "irresponsible supervision." Housing allocations prioritize those loyal to the Kim regime and workers in strategic sectors like science and engineering.

    As North Korea's economy falters, Kim has outlined plans to redevelop Pyongyang's aging neighborhoods, suggesting an expansion beyond the current five-year target. The capital has cautiously reopened to limited foreign visitors, but the country remains largely sealed off.