Satellite images have captured the demolition and clearing of a large greenhouse site right next to the Kumsusan Guesthouse in Pyongyang.
Analysis of Sentinel-2A satellite images taken on Aug. 17 confirmed that the large greenhouse located about 700 meters east of Kumsusan Guesthouse has been demolished. The greenhouse, which occupied about 300,000 square meters, began demolition in early April and was completely removed a month later. No new facilities have been built on this site so far.
Regarding this, a Daily NK source inside North Korea said on Tuesday, “(The demolished greenhouse) was used jointly as a fruit and vegetable research institute greenhouse to supply members of the Central Committee and as a greenhouse for the central floriculture institute. These facilities have been used for researching and cultivating fruits, vegetables, and flowers.”
The source explained that it was a research greenhouse farm that studied fruits and vegetables supplied to Central Committee officials, researched edible and decorative flowers, and special floral varieties, playing an important role in agricultural research and food supply for Central Committee officials.
Based on the source’s report, the demolished greenhouse appears to have been jointly used by the Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute and the Pyongyang Floriculture Institute. Considering the role and importance of these two institutes, there’s a possibility that the greenhouse has been relocated to a new location.
Meanwhile, auxiliary facilities for Kumsusan Guesthouse look set to be constructed on the cleared site.
The source told Daily NK that “(the facilities) are aimed at building more accommodations and facilities for important foreign heads of state or state-level diplomatic envoys.”
Kumsusan Guesthouse was first revealed when Chinese President Xi Jinping made a state visit to North Korea in 2019. Until then, North Korea had used Paekhwawon Guesthouse, built in 1983 in Pyongyang’s Daesong district, as accommodation for foreign guests. It appears that North Korea is preparing to use Kumsusan Guesthouse as the main accommodation for foreign dignitaries.
The source explained, “The state plans to create major accommodations or places for state-level diplomatic envoys according to their rank, including lodgings, lakes, and walking paths. The Paektusan Architectural Institute participated in the (new facility) design, and the Military Construction Bureau of the People’s Army (Ministry of Defense) and the Seventh General Bureau of the Ministry of Social Security were mobilized for the (greenhouse) demolition.”
He added, “It hasn’t been decided yet whether the same units will be mobilized for construction as for demolition. This is because sometimes the demolition and construction are handled by different entities, and there’s also a possibility that the Central Committee’s First Brigade might be deployed for construction.”
The Paektusan Architectural Institute, established in 1982 through an order by Kim Jong Il, has been responsible for major construction projects in North Korea, including Pyongyang Grand Theatre, Changjon Street, Mirae Scientists Street, and the city of Samjiyon.
The Central Committee’s First Brigade receives direct orders from Kim Jong Un and is mainly tasked with building confidential facilities related to the supreme leader, such as special villas (retreats), recreational facilities, and hospitals associated with the Kim family.
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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