N. Korea's Kim chides officials responsible for delay in building general hospital in Pyongyang

▲ North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un (R) inspects the Pyongyang General Hospital ahead of the completion of its construction on Sept. 23, 2025, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un (L) inspects the Pyongyang General Hospital ahead of the completion of its construction on Sept. 23, 2025, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 24, 2025, shows the Pyongyang General Hospital ahead of the completion of its construction. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

NK leader-hospital

N. Korea's Kim chides officials responsible for delay in building general hospital in Pyongyang

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reprimanded officials responsible for delaying the completion of a general hospital in Pyongyang, blaming their "desire for fame" for undermining the ruling party's key project, according to state media Wednesday.

Kim made the remarks during his visit to the Pyongyang General Hospital the previous day ahead of its official opening, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

In February, the North said it had completed the construction of the hospital, a project aimed at improving public health. But North Korea was not able to open it as the country had barely built its exterior and failed to fill it with medical devices and staff.

On the main reason for the delay in the construction, Kim blamed the "desire for fame" sought by some senior officials at the then Cabinet and other officials for causing "disorder" in organizing the economic project.

"In those days, they pushed ahead with the construction at their own discretion without the approval of the total budget for construction reflecting the hospital scale and the change in design while neglecting the financial discipline of the state, and thus brought economic losses," Kim said.

He said the case showed "the undisciplined practices in economic work, subjective desire of officials and their immaturity in political guidance are still latent in the state," according to the KCNA.

In March 2020, Kim attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital, ordering its completion by October that year. But the construction slackened due to a chronic shortage of construction materials and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photos carried by the North's state media showed Kim looking around the rooftop helipad, operational rooms and other facilities, and meeting with medical workers. Also shown in the photos are medical devices and beds for patients.

North Korea is widely expected to open the hospital near the 80th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), set for Oct. 10.

Kim called the general hospital a "present" that the WPK gives to the people on the occasion of its founding anniversary, the KCNA added.

North Korea earlier unveiled a plan to build hospitals in three counties in a pilot project this year and construct 20 hospitals across cities and counties each year, starting in 2026. The move is part of Kim's signature policy of developing backward regions to help boost the people's livelihoods.

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