Following last week’s post on Chongjin’s residential construction, an anonymous reader sent in more photos of the scale model we used to analyze progress on the construction project. These photos shed new light on the project that has yet to be covered in the DPRK’s official media.

Chongjin redevelopment plan

Alternative view: Chongjin redevelopment plan

Here is a Google Earth satellite image (February 14, 2012) of the same area:

Lets take a specific look at the differences.

In Namgang-dong (lower left hand corner, we can see the complete elimination of the Chongjin Steelworks (청진제강소). This process has already begun:

Referring back to the model, we can label the specific changes that will be targeted:

As noted before, a green boulevard is under construction that will extend south from the Kim Il Sung statue to the East Sea. The length of this boulevard is approximately 1,368m (1,496 yards).  To the left of the boulevard, on land formerly occupied by the Chongjin Steelworks, a new park, health complex and high-rise apartments are scheduled to be built. In a later phase of construction, it appears, the entire steel mill complex (including housing, shops, recreation facilities, and schools) will been torn down and replaced with modern high rise apartments and a new water treatment facility.

Here are some additional changes taking place to the right of the boulevard:

In this satellite image we can see that the local market will be torn down to make way for an expansion of the Chongjin Youth Park. Many provincial capitals are adding amusement parks to the amenities they offer to the citizens. Chongjin’s amusement park will likely go here. It is unclear to where the market would be moved. To the north of the youth park, we can see a new theater or leisure facility under construction.

It is here where we can also see the first proof that new high-rises are coming to the neighborhood:

Construction on two of these three apartment buildings has already begun. And just to the north of this site, we can see that five more apartment buildings are in the initial stages of construction:

And if you were wondering where the inspiration for all this new construction is coming from, this scale model offers a subtle clue: A replica of Beijing’s new CCTV building:

It appears that the DPRK’s architects are taking classes in China!

We will keep any eye on the satellite imagery and official media announcements to keep you informed on how this project is developing. Below are additional photos of the architectural model used in this article.