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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a construction site for riverside apartments in Pyongyang, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency Aug. 21. Yonhap |
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the construction site of riverside apartments in Pyongyang for the third time in nearly six months, state media reported Saturday.
Kim inspected the residential district building project on the Pothong River that runs through the North Korean capital and called for timely measures for the supply of equipment and materials, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
"Expressing great satisfaction over the radical change brought about in the riverside area, making it totally different from how it was about 140 days ago, by the builders' patriotism and loyalty despite lack of everything and difficulties, he highly appreciated the labor feats of all the builders," it added.
The KCNA did not reveal the exact date of the inspection.
The construction site is in an area that until the 1970s housed a special residence for Kim Il-sung, the late state founder and grandfather of current the leader. The area is considered most propitious and sacred in the North.
The site had been left vacant since 2009, though houses were built in the surrounding area.
As he conducted the inspection, Kim instructed that the district be named Kyongru-dong, meaning "beautiful gem terrace."
He also stressed the need to take thorough "sci-tech measures" to improve the quality of the river water.
In March, North Korea unveiled a plan to build around 800 "terraced apartments" along the Pothong River section of Pyongyang. Kim visited the construction site that month and in April.
Jo Yong-won, secretary for organizational affairs of the Worker's Party Central Committee and a close aide to Kim, was one of a group of officials greeting the North's leaders.
"He was greeted on the spot by Jong Sang-hak, Jo Yong-won, Ri Hi-yong and other cadres of the Central Committee of the Party and commanding officers and leading officials of the units involved in the construction," the KCNA said.
Just last month, Jo was addressed by Kim before Jong as they accompanied him to a monument symbolizing friendly relations with China.
Jo, a member of the Workers' Party of Korea's Presidium, is considered to be No. 3 in the reclusive state's hierarchy. (Yonhap)
