North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to have approved the construction of five new mansions in a part of central Pyongyang known as the “forbidden city,” NK Pro analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery shows.

They are located next to a group of new mansions built last fall in the secure Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) headquarters complex. The construction comes as Kim has urged the population to withstand economic hardships as the country maintains restrictions on foreign trade to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

According to Planet Labs satellite imagery, the five new villas were built on formerly empty land between early November and early December last year. They appear smaller in size than four others built in the same area starting last September.

Their smaller size suggests they were built for trusted party officials or Kim’s extended family or supporters, but not likely for the leader himself.

It is unclear if construction has finished on the nine new mansions built since last fall, but the appearance of new roads and landscaping surrounding them suggest they are at least nearing completion.

The new construction comes after a spate of new large-scale projects in the WPK complex in 2019 and 2020 to build new party offices and other facilities. 

Meanwhile, apparent goods shortages have led to delays in completing a major housing project for ordinary people in southeast Pyongyang as well as a new neighborhood in the city center for 800 elite families.

Edited by Arius Derr