Advertisement

North Koreans irked at orders to donate to construction project

State news media is encouraging the donations.

By Elizabeth Shim
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un standing before Ryomyong Street, dedicated to "future scientists." The construction project could be facing shortages. File Photo by Rodong Sinmun
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un standing before Ryomyong Street, dedicated to "future scientists." The construction project could be facing shortages. File Photo by Rodong Sinmun

SEOUL, June 28 (UPI) -- North Korea needs all the help it can get in the construction of a new residential district dedicated to Pyongyang's scientists, but a request to donate household goods to the effort is drawing backlash.

The Kim Jong Un project known as Ryomyong Street, or "Avenue of Dawn," completed its first phase of construction in 2015 at a cost of $88.4 million.

Advertisement

But the street that was supposed to transform Pyongyang "into a city of even more magnificent splendor," in the words of Kim, could be facing shortages.

A North Korean source in South Pyongan Province told Daily NK the state has been issuing "various directives in succession" regarding the Ryomyong project, including orders for ordinary North Koreans to donate households goods, like pots and pans, to the project.

The orders were made public on Tuesday. State-controlled KCNA reported delegates gathering for the fourth meeting of its 13th Supreme People's Assembly, to be held Wednesday, contributed "support material" at the construction sites along Ryomyong.

"The delegates saw with their own eyes the shape of a new and modern street that is Ryomyong construction...they gave encouragement to the builders who are spreading great achievement," the KCNA statement read, adding the delegates gave the builders "materials" that could "accomplish a new revolution."

Advertisement

The pressure to provide support, however, is not being well received, according to Daily NK's source.

North Korean enterprises, schools and work units have been tasked with after-hours activities, leaving them "scrambling to pick up scraps" near factories, the source said.

North Korean cooperative leaders are going door to door to collect items like shovels, pickaxes, nails, welding, as well as gloves, soap and toiletries.

The mandatory donations are drawing the ire of the people, the source said.

Latest Headlines