North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Kim Jong Un Visits Mirae Scientists’ Street Construction Project

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Kim Jong Un talks with a KPA construction manager during a tour of the Mirae Scientists Street in Pyongyang. Also in attendance (right) is VMar Hwang Pyong So, Director of the KPA General Political Department (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un’s last observed appearance was his attendance at a commemorative photo-op with construction workers

DPRK state media reported on February 15 (Sunday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited and guided the ongoing construction of the Mirae Scientists Street (a residential subdivision) in Pyongyang, after viewing it from his personal airplane.  Also in attendance were Hwang Pyong So (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department) and Han Kwang Sang (Director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Finance and Accounting Department.

Whilst flying on his personal airplane, Jong Un said that “it was very nice to see buildings under construction as required by the lay-out design of the street ratified by the party” and “that the frames of the apartment houses and public buildings to be completed in the first phase have sprung up like mushrooms after rain thanks to the devoted struggle of soldier builders. The construction site of the street is reminiscent of those in the 1970s and the 1980s and Pyongyang spirit and speed today are being created there.”

Kim Jong Un observes the construction of the Mirae Scientists' Street in Pyongyang from his personal plane (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un observes the construction of the Mirae Scientists Street in Pyongyang from his personal plane (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un discusses the construction of Mirae Scientists Street on his personal plane with Han Kwang Sang (Director of the WPK Finance and Accounting Department) and VMar Hwang Pyong So (Photos: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un discusses the construction of Mirae Scientists Street on his personal plane with Han Kwang Sang (Director of the WPK Finance and Accounting Department) and VMar Hwang Pyong So (Photos: Rodong Sinmun).

He noted that,”objects built in the first phase will look splendid when those in the second phase are constructed well.”  Kim Jong Un observed recent construction and renovation work from and, according to KCNA, said the he “came to have the conviction that if the construction makes progress at this speed, it is possible to successfully face-lift Pyongyang, the capital of the revolution, as a world class city to be envied by the world true to the behests of the great leaders in the near future.”

Kim Jong Un issues instructions about the construction Mirae Scientists Street in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un issues instructions about the construction Mirae Scientists Street in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

After his plane landed, Kim Jong Un toured the construction site. He said that he was “satisfied to look down the construction site from the plane” and that “its appearance on the spot looks more magnificent and spectacular.”  He was briefed about the construction and toured an apartment building and other facilities.  According to KCNA, Jong Un said, “the soldier builders are constructing the objects in the first phase of the street as required by the new century, he praised them for having built a new embankment along the bank of the River Taedong after removing the old one to make the street look splendid and successfully constructing the interior of the apartment houses.”

He reiterated the “need to turn the Mirae Scientists Street into the one fully demonstrating the party’s policy of attaching importance to science and talents” and that “the officials of the relevant unit and soldier builders involved in the construction should complete the street as the one to be handed down to posterity from the stand to ensure the highest civilization and create the maximum speed.”

Kim Jong Un tours apartments under construction (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un tours apartments under construction (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un “gave instructions to produce furniture and fixtures for flats at the highest level while building the street and construct well medical care and commercial network and cultural facilities including barber’s shop, beauty salon, laundry, bath house, dress and shoes repairers, pharmacy, restaurant, shop and library” and said it was “necessary to push forward the embankment arrangement of the River Taedong and the greening of the area around the street while stepping up the construction of structures as required by the design and construction method.”  He told “commanding officers to give precedence to the frontline-style political work for giving fullest play to the mental power of the soldier builders, dynamically conduct a socialist emulation, pay deep attention to the supply service for them and take care of them like their real parents would do so that they may not have any slightest inconvenience in their living.”

He instructed that the first phase of construction be complete by the April 15 birth anniversary of his grandfather, DPRK founder and president Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and the second phase be complete in time for the WPK’s 70th anniversary in October.  Jong Un also “stressed that to this end it is necessary to reinforce the construction force of the People’s Army and the whole party, state and society should render positive support to the construction of the street.”

According to KCNA, Jong Un noted that “the construction site of the street is the place which proves the validity of the WPK’s construction policy and showcases the level of the Korean people’s civilization and mental power of the army and people” and under the leadership of the party the recent period witnesses great changes in every site of the grand socialist construction as what is happening in the construction site of the Mirae Scientists Street.”

Kim Jong Un tours the construction of Mirae Scientists Street in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Kim Jong Un tours the construction of Mirae Scientists Street in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).

Jong Un also said that he “came to have stronger confidence that the party’s plan for building a rich and powerful nation is sure to come true thanks to such staunch and loyal soldiers while looking down from the plane and watching on the spot them waging a dynamic drive despite the mid winter cold weather” and he “extended the militant salute of the supreme commander to them.”

Kim Jong Un “called on the soldier builders to steadily expand the successes being registered in all projects and carry out their assignments for objects and phases as scheduled and thus powerfully demonstrate once again the truth that the DPRK’s determination precisely means practice through the construction of the street.”

An affiliate of 38 North