North Korean construction workers completed the frames of 3,000 new apartments in 78 days, at rates of up to one floor per 14 hours, official state media said on Saturday.

But the breakneck pace of 24 hour construction efforts on Ryomyong street, which come amid a 200 day ‘battle’ to boost the national economy, could have serious safety implications following a deadly Pyongyang building collapse in 2014.

Described by state media as part of a ‘Mallima Speed’ initiative, Saturday’s KCNA report said “the carcass work of scores of apartment buildings” had already been completed since project kick-off on April 3.

And if true, the reported construction of