Overview

• Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony celebrating the completion of 10,000 new apartments in Pyongyang's Hwasong area, part of a five-year plan to address housing shortages in the capital.
• This latest milestone brings the total number of new housing units completed since 2021 to 40,000, with a final phase under construction to further improve living standards.
• The event coincided with the 113th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung, North Korea's founder, a deliberate choice to emphasize Kim Jong-un's leadership and public commitment.
• For the third consecutive year, Kim Jong-un skipped the traditional visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, signaling a shift in leadership symbolism and a focus on current priorities.
• High-ranking officials, including Premier Pak Thae-song and Choe Ryong-hae, attended rituals at the mausoleum, maintaining state observance of the founder's legacy.