Despite the official ‘special treatment’ given to Pyongyang, public opinion in the North Korean capital is nevertheless getting worse, according to sources.
The authorities are focusing most of their available resources on improving the city, hoping that by modernizing the capital they can show the nation’s rebirth as a ‘strong and prosperous nation’ to both the people and international observers. However, shoddy construction practices and injuries to workers are said to be contributing to public discontent.
One source told Daily NK on Thursday, “Apart from in the Mansudae area of the city, they are using poor quality materials or the wrong percentage of cement to sand in the concrete, which has led to many construction collapses. There have been a great many accidents on construction sites as a result of this.”
The source claimed that the people are derisory about the 100,000 homes project, pointing out that the authorities are imposing competition between constructing organizations to ensure quick progress, the results are being dogged by substandard construction quality.
Rumor reportedly has it that more than 200 university students working on the construction sites around the city have died in various accidents. “Safety equipment isn’t available in sufficient quantities, and there are widespread rumors that due to this several students fall to their deaths every day.”
The organizations involved in construction are going too far to try and complete the construction work, but this is leading to constant casualties and inciting public resentment. One of the more amusing stories emerging is of a flowerbed set in place to prepare for international events, but which was subsequently washed away by rain.
“People whisper that if they have so much money why don’t they just spend it on food distribution instead,” the source commented.
“People don’t believe we will enter the ‘strong and prosperous state’; and just mockingly say that next year will be the year when even the gisaeng (similar to Japanese geisha) starve to death,” the source concluded.
