editorial

Construction is in its great heyday in the DPRK.

Its true meaning and value lie not only in the speed, scale, advancement and modernity of construction but also in that the people-first principle is fully embodied in every structure.

The architectural ideal of the Workers’ Party of Korea based on the people-first principle requires that the construction of dwelling houses directly linked to the people’s living be carried out at the highest level in any unfavourable conditions and circumstances by adopting it as the most important task of the Party and the government.

Saying that socialism should be built in the minds of the people first and housing is the matter of their greatest concern, the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un ensured that the housing construction was carried out without fail, regarding it as the core of the construction policy set forth at the Eighth Congress of the WPK.

The office buildings of Party and government organs in the Hwasong area in Pyongyang, which is turning into an urban administrative district, rose up only when the fourth round of house-moving was in full swing. This is one of the many facts which help people have a clear understanding of the people-first ideal of architecture of the Party.

The historic Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the WPK set the grand goals and fighting tasks for the rapid development of the rural areas as the country entered the period of overall development of socialist construction with the Eighth Congress of the WPK as a turning point.

The WPK adopted the transformation of the appearance and environment of the rural communities as the most important task in socialist rural construction, a popular undertaking desired and hailed by all the people and the political affair of presenting a new rural civilization in the present era and opening up a new world in which the rural communities undergo sweeping changes, and energetically led the efforts to realize it.

Last year alone, modern houses for over 32 000 families were newly built in various structures and styles across the country and agricultural workers moved into them.

The people-first ideal of architecture of the Party also finds expression in the fact that many buildings for the people are springing up across the country.

The Pyongyang General Hospital, the Pothong Riverside Terraced Houses District, large vegetable production bases and the Kumsanpho Fish Pickling Factory are part of the creations of the Juche-oriented architecture which sprang up at the excellent places chosen by the respected General Secretary.

Many other monumental structures have been built to bring the people greater joy and happiness, including the Mirim Riding Club, the Masikryong Ski Resort, apartment houses for educators of Kim Chaek University of Technology, Pyongyang Taedonggang Seafood Restaurant, Pyongyang Baby Home and Pyongyang Orphanage.

The people-first architectural ideal of the Party also requires ensuring aesthetic beauty and convenience to meet the improving thoughts and feelings and the rising demands of the people.

It is the standard of architectural creation defined by the General Secretary that structures attaining the highest level of civilization should be built by looking far ahead into the future though it is hard and difficult at present.

The dwelling houses in Kyongru-dong, which was built as a model of modern terraced houses district, new streets in the Hwasong area, which show fresh developments in the aspects of modernity, utility and aesthetic beauty each year, newly-built rural villages across the country, new regional-industry factories, leisure complexes and city and county hospitals are the identities showing what kind of civilization the WPK intends to provide the people is.

The common people have become the masters of such wonderful flourishing living spaces, which draw the admiration of all people, and posh houses built by the country with enormous investments are supplied to the working people free of charge.

At the inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area to complete the five-year plan for the construction of the capital city, General Secretary Kim Jong Un said that the newly-built Hwasong area looks so beautiful for the majestic appearance of large architectural groups embodying the advanced civilization and, more importantly, as it reflects the genuine happiness and bright images of the people.