As reported here in July, the drive to show North Korea as a "strong and prosperous state" by 2012, the centenary of Kim Il Sung's birth (aka Juche year 100), has seen a building boom in Pyongyang.
The Daily NK now has photos. Here's downtown in all its glory:
In an effort to accomplish these aims, the regime has reportedly closed universities in order to inject students into the construction work alongside members of the Chosun People's Army. Inside sources allege that there have been many accidents as inexperienced workers are pushed to finish on time.
More photos here.
Elsewhere, Stephen Haggard has a couple of interesting North Korean posts: one on the increase in the importation of luxury goods, and another on the food crisis.
That second piece links to this Nicholas Eberstadt article on the futility of humanitarian aid:
More than a decade and a half of humanitarian relief initiatives for North Korea have been financed by well-meaning but essentially clueless bureaucracies in the international community oblivious to, or unwilling to face, the ugly realities that account for North Korea’s hunger problem today. To no great surprise, these clueless programs of supposed humanitarian relief have been a resounding failure. Or to be a little more precise: they have done a wonderful job of nourishing and supporting the North Korean regime — they have only incidentally and episodically mitigated the distress of the victims for which they were intended. Thus the unending calls for more food aid for North Korea — a pattern that in itself should awaken us to the basic bankruptcy of our current approach.
Worth reading in full.
More good news, Mick - according to the South's official Yonhap news agency, everyone's favourite hotel the Ryukyong is to reopen - sort of:
North Korea Plans to Partially Open Landmark Hotel
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea plans to partially open a landmark hotel next April to mark the centennial of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder, a source said Tuesday.
The move comes as the North is working on the interiors of the 105-story Ryukyong Hotel, which has stood unfinished in downtown Pyongyang for nearly 20 years due to a lack of capital.
In 2008, the North resumed construction of the skyscraper with financing from Egypt's Orascom Telecom, the operator of a mobile phone network in the isolated communist country.
The North plans to open from the basement to the 25th floor of the hotel mainly for offices, restaurants, gymnasiums and bars on April 15, Kim's centennial birthday, the source said.
The Pyongyang offices of international agencies and European companies are expected to move into the new building.
The North is struggling to achieve its stated goal of building a prosperous nation next year, the centennial of the birth of Kim Il Sung , the father of current leader Kim Jong Il.
Posted by: No Good Boyo | October 05, 2011 at 03:20 PM
The Ryugyong was dogged with rumours of shoddy building: crooked lifts and poor quality concrete. I'd assumed the recent Orascom efforts were just cosmetic, so the wretched structure would look a little less hideous. It'll be interesting to see if this partial occupation does actually happen.
Posted by: Mick H | October 05, 2011 at 05:33 PM