Kim Jong Un, the Chairman of the Workers' Party of North Korea, paid tribute at Kim Il Sung Square in commemoration of Kim Jong Il's birthday after four years. On the same day, Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party, unveiled a new capital construction plan to transform underdeveloped areas within the metropolitan area as the next step in the construction of the Hwasong district.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Commissioner Kim Jong Un visited the Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il statues at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the "Day of the Bright Star" (Kim Jong Il's birthday) on the 16th and paid his respects.
The Korean Central News Agency reported, "Commissioner Kim expressed his determination to always be loyal to the revolutionary思想 and achievements of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and to dedicate himself to the sacred struggle for the eternal prosperity of the homeland and the well-being of the people."
The tribute was attended by Party Secretaries Pak Jong Chon and Ri Hi Yong, Minister of Defense No Kwang Chol, Director General Kim Jae Ryong, and Vice Chairperson Kim Yo Jong.
North Korean media released a photo of Commissioner Kim along with six others paying tribute at the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. This public tribute by Commissioner Kim at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of Kim Jong Il's birthday marks the first time in four years since the tribute in 2021.
Premier Pak Tae Song, Party Organizational Secretary Jo Yong Won, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly Choe Ryong Hae also visited Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay tribute.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Commissioner Kim gifted stationery and snacks to students at revolutionary academies, elementary schools, and kindergartens nationwide in celebration of the "February holiday."
The birthday of Kim Jong Il, known as the Day of the Bright Star, along with Kim Il Sung's birthday, is the biggest holiday in North Korea.
On the same afternoon, General Secretary Kim Jong Un attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 10,000 dwellings in the fourth phase of the Hwasong district in Pyongyang.
The General Secretary unveiled a new capital construction plan, stating that efforts will be made to transform underdeveloped areas within the metropolitan area as the next phase of Hwasong district construction.
The Workers' Party's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on the 17th, "The construction of 50,000 dwellings in Pyongyang, as decided at the 8th Party Congress, has finally entered the final stage," noting that the groundbreaking ceremony for 10,000 dwellings in the fourth phase of Hwasong district took place on the afternoon of the 16th.
At the ceremony, General Secretary Kim, along with Premier Pak Tae Song, Party, government, and military officials, as well as officials from the cabinet, military institutions, ministries, and central agencies within Pyongyang, attended.
In his speech, General Secretary Kim stated, "As we have faithfully executed the plan over the past four years, we are once again holding a ceremony to mark the start of construction for 10,000 homes this New Year. This year, the construction of 10,000 dwellings will finally enter the final stage of the 50,000 dwelling project in Pyongyang, which has been vigorously pursued since the Party Congress."
He indicated that the construction project for the fourth phase of Hwasong district in this final year of the five-year plan would include not only the dwellings but also the construction of "cultural life bases."
In his speech, General Secretary Kim also introduced the new capital construction concept, stating that after completing the construction of the Hwasong district, plans would be made to expand the area of Pyongyang in the direction of Kangdong.
General Secretary Kim explained, "We intend to build key scientific research institutes, technical universities, and military academies in the Daesong District, and thus propose creating tens of thousands of modern dwellings in the area from Hwasong district to Samsok District's Seongmun-dong."
He continued, "We will also proceed with the task of transforming underdeveloped areas within the metropolitan area, including the Umyeon rural area, Moranbong district's Wolhyangdong area, and Hyungjesan district's Hadangdong area, as well as old and neglected cultural areas in the suburbs, and this is expected to be handed over as the Party's main business for the future."
그는 이어 "선교구역 등메동지구, 모란봉구역 월향동지구, 형제산구역 하당동지구를 비롯한 수도권 내의 낙후한 지역들과 교외의 낡고 뒤떨어진 생활문화 지역들을 개변하는 사업도 진행할 것"이라며 "다음 당 주요사업으로 인계할 예정"이라고 덧붙였다.