For decades, free housing has remained a major topic of North Korean propaganda which claims that apartments and houses are distributed by the state free of charge and in strict accordance with the needs of the population – much to the envy of the foreigners. 

To cite one of many examples, the Pyongyang Times recently quoted “a foreign businessman” as saying, “Working people are living in majestic high-rise apartment houses. It is unbelievable. In other countries, even when all family members work hard and put all their savings together, it is different to buy such a wonderful house.”