What plans for a new Pyongyang hospital say about class politics in North Korea



Analysis What plans for a new Pyongyang hospital say about class politics in North Korea The hospital's central, symbolic location could reflect growing demand for better medical facilities Christopher Green March 25, 2020 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Rodong Sinmun On March 18, North Korean state media revealed news of a major new public works project in central Pyongyang: a general hospital. The latest in a string of investments in the healthcare sector since Kim Jong Un came to power in late 2011, the project may be related to a probable local outbreak of COVID-19. But equally, it points towards the regime’s vision for capital city development, and how the regime both sees itself and wishes to be seen. The new hospital, built at the behest of Kim Jong Un and reflecting government concerns over the state of municipal Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Lessons from chaos: What Kim Jong Un sees in an era of global turmoil 02In 2024, Kim Jong Un swaggered on the global stage like never before 03Military dominates Kim Jong Un’s attention in his busiest year in nearly decade 04How Trump’s return could transform North Korea’s quiet ties with Thailand 05How Assad’s downfall could expose secrets of North Korea-Syria military ties 06All the companies that participated in the Pyongyang Autumn Trade Fair 2024 07No Chinese firms joined North Korea’s latest trade fair dominated by Russia 08What defectors’ exam scores reveal about the quality of North Korean health care

Analysis

What plans for a new Pyongyang hospital say about class politics in North Korea

The hospital's central, symbolic location could reflect growing demand for better medical facilities

Christopher Green March 25, 2020

What plans for a new Pyongyang hospital say about class politics in North Korea

Rodong Sinmun

On March 18, North Korean state media revealed news of a major new public works project in central Pyongyang: a general hospital.

The latest in a string of investments in the healthcare sector since Kim Jong Un came to power in late 2011, the project may be related to a probable local outbreak of COVID-19. But equally, it points towards the regime’s vision for capital city development, and how the regime both sees itself and wishes to be seen.

The new hospital, built at the behest of Kim Jong Un and reflecting government concerns over the state of municipal

01Lessons from chaos: What Kim Jong Un sees in an era of global turmoil
02In 2024, Kim Jong Un swaggered on the global stage like never before
03Military dominates Kim Jong Un’s attention in his busiest year in nearly decade
04How Trump’s return could transform North Korea’s quiet ties with Thailand
05How Assad’s downfall could expose secrets of North Korea-Syria military ties
06All the companies that participated in the Pyongyang Autumn Trade Fair 2024
07No Chinese firms joined North Korea’s latest trade fair dominated by Russia
08What defectors’ exam scores reveal about the quality of North Korean health care

What plans for a new Pyongyang hospital say about class politics in North Korea

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Christopher Green