NK launches development plan to turn Pyongyang into a "world-class" city

The Korean Central News Agency reported on Mar. 18, 2026, that the construction of 10,000 housing units in the fourth phase of the Hwasong District, a large-scale residential area in Pyongyang, North Korea, has been completed, and that the area is bustling with new residents moving in. Yonhap

SEOUL, March 18 (AJP) - North Korea has launched a new phase of its ambitious housing construction and urban redevelopment plan to transform its capital of Pyongyang into a “world-class city,” state media reported.

Top officials, including the newly-appointed ruling Workers' Party of Korea construction chief Kim Jong-gwan, held a launch ceremony and exhibition of equipment Tuesday to mark the start of the fifth phase of the Hwasong district development in the capital. 

The event showcased machinery, repair tools, and spare parts prepared by construction units, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported. 

The Hwasong district has been a centerpiece of the state’s housing drive. From 2022 to 2025, some 40,000 new housing units were reportedly built in four development phases. 

Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un last month attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth phase, signaling a shift in focus from meeting basic housing demand to reshaping the capital’s overall urban landscape.

At the 9th party congress in February, Kim called for sustained efforts to transform Pyongyang into a city with the “dignity and character of a world-class metropolis.” 

Hwasong should become a model administrative district with fully integrated political, economic, and cultural functions over the next two years, he said.

Residents have begun moving into 10,000 newly completed apartments, according to state media. 

The party told the congress it aims to build “hundreds of thousands” of housing units over the next five years, a substantial increase from the 50,000-unit target announced at the previous congress in 2021.

That earlier goal was allegedly surpassed, with state media reporting that about 60,000 homes were completed in Pyongyang. The latest plans also include rural construction, with the party saying more than 110,000 farm households have already been provided with new housing.

The emphasis on construction has also been reflected in personnel changes. Kim Jong-gwan, a former vice premier responsible for construction, was elevated to his current post as the top party construction official during the congress. In addition, a new sector-specific consultation body for construction was established.