New tower blocks being built adjacent to Pyongyang’s Kim Il Square, one of which appears to be at least 30 floors in height, appear to indicate a significant change in the traditional building regulations surrounding one of North Korea’s most well-known landmarks.

Construction of five new tower blocks can be clearly seen in photos of the area taken in March, with one roughly 20-floor building being built just 100 meters south of the square, which is well known for being surrounded by North Korean government buildings.

Buildings of such a height so close to a