North Korean propaganda authorities flooded state media at the end of last year with almost 50 reports about completing minor construction projects in a bid to suggest loyal officials were actively boosting development around the country. 

But NK Pro analysis shows over half of those located in satellite imagery were old projects that faced delays of five or more years, demonstrating the centrally-planned economy’s inability to overcome chronic resource and funding problems that cause projects to be stalled or abandoned.

These minor projects stand in stark contrast to the marquee ones “personally” overseen by leader