An iconic and decades-old department store in eastern Pyongyang is getting a major refurbishment following a change in ownership, photos of the construction site and insight from long-time observers shows.

Refurbishment of the Daesong Department Store – situated near the now – abandoned site of the East Pyongyang Mall – is progressing at a notably rapid pace, sources told NK Pro in late February, despite indications there may have been a small fire at the site in late January.

The works follow a recent change in the store’s ownership, which has “since 2017… been known to be under