🏙️ North Korean media reported on February 16 that leader Kim Jong-un attended the completion ceremony for 10,000 'salimjib' (residential houses) in the fourth stage of the Hwasong district in Pyongyang. This event marked the completion of the '50,000-home construction project in Pyongyang' originally set during the 8th Party Congress in 2021 286511. North Korea explained that the project aimed to alleviate housing shortages in the capital by building 10,000 units annually over five years 65.
During the event, North Korean media released footage of Kim's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, directly interacting with residents, including talking to and hugging them. South Korean media and experts have interpreted these scenes as being linked to a 'succession structure' 1347910.
Meanwhile, North Korea also signaled that it would announce 'even grander' new construction goals at the 9th Party Congress (scheduled for late February) 284. As the expansion of housing supply is directly related to improving living conditions, attention is focused on how much residents will actually benefit during the move-in and operation process 65.
Sources
- 북한 김주애, 주민과 직접 '스킨십' 보도 이례적... '후계 구도' 환기? [jtbc.co.kr] (2026-02-17)
- 북 "평양 5만세대 주택 건설 완수…더 웅대한 목표 명시할 것" [jtbc.co.kr] (2026-02-17)
- 北주애, 주민과 이례적 직접 스킨십…"후계 지위에 한발짝 더"(종합) [yna.co.kr] (2026-02-17)
- 북 "'평양 5만 세대' 완수"…김주애, 주민과 이례적 스킨십(종합2보) [newsis.com] (2026-02-17)
- 북 "'평양 5만 세대' 완수"…김주애, 주민과 이례적 스킨십(종합) [newsis.com] (2026-02-17)
- 북, '평양 5만세대' 건설 완료…김정은 준공식 참석 [yonhapnewstv.co.kr] (2026-02-17)
- 김주애, 직접 시민들 껴안았다…이례적 '밀착 스킨십' 포착 [mbn.co.kr] (2026-02-17)
- 북, '평양 5만세대' 건설 완료…"9차 당대회서 더 웅대한 목표" [yna.co.kr] (2026-02-16)
- 김주애, 평양 시민들 껴안아... 北 4대 세습 후계자 굳히기? [chosun.com] (2026-02-17)
- 김주애, 시민들 껴안으며 이례적 스킨십…후계 구도 굳히기? [donga.com] (2026-02-17)
- 北 “‘평양 5만 세대’ 완수”…김주애, 주민과 이례적 스킨십 [donga.com] (2026-02-17)
Highlights
- Event Composition: North Korean media reported that Kim Jong-un was accompanied by Kim Ju-ae and his wife Ri Sol-ju at the ceremony, where Ri Il-hwan, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, delivered the opening speech 411.
- On-site Encouragement: It was reported that Kim Jong-un met with workers and construction contributors ('labor innovators') who were assigned new homes, shaking their hands and praising them for carrying out party policies 411.
- Scope of Ju-ae's Attendance: It was noted that since her public debut, Kim Ju-ae has accompanied Chairman Kim to various events including military schedules, the people's economy, diplomacy, and culture 5.
- Succession Interpretation: Professor Lim Eul-chul of Kyungnam University analyzed that the public display of 'skinship' with residents could be a signal of undergoing a process of public consent 4.
Because there are absolute implementers of party policy like you, comrades, the major construction tasks decided by our Party could be successfully concluded.
— Kim Jong-un — 뉴시스
Perspectives
North Korean Authorities (KCNA): Reported that the construction of 50,000 homes in Pyongyang was pursued and completed as a 'top priority task.'
Professor Lim Eul-chul, Kyungnam University: Analyzed that the scenes of Ju-ae's contact with residents suggest the possibility of a public consent process for her 'nomination.'
South Korean Media Reports (Analysis): Interpretations have been raised that the disclosure of Ju-ae's unusual hugging and face-to-face scenes could be related to 'reminding' or 'solidifying' the succession structure.
Historical Background
South Korean media reported that large-scale housing complexes have been created starting with the Songsin and Songhwa districts in 2022, and expanding the Hwasong district in northeast Pyongyang through stages 1 to 4 57.