North Korean leader Kim Jong Un kicked off a project to build three new hospitals on Thursday, according to state media, indicating the scope of public health facility construction this year will be smaller in scale than previously suggested amid long delays opening other new hospitals. 

But the commencement of the project nonetheless signals Kim has secured reliable shipping networks to acquire a range of medical equipment currently prohibited under a flagging U.N. sanctions regime.

The Rodong Sinmum reported Friday that Kim delivered a speech at a ceremony to start work on the Kangdong County Hospital and General Service