North Korea workers are labouring “day and night” to build a new hospital “faster and better” than planned, as officials deny that coronavirus has crossed its borders.
Work on the new Pyongyang General Hospital began suddenly just under a month ago, with Kim Jong-un setting an ambitious 200-day deadline for completion.
However, he appeared to downplay any link to the ongoing pandemic at the time, making no reference to it at a groundbreaking ceremony and instead linking its completion to a national holiday.
But now it looks like the project might be rushed to completion even sooner.
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According to state run media, builders are intent on completing construction “faster and better”, and are working “day and night” to get the hospital up and running.
The report added that the “vicious” sanctions imposed by “hostile forces” to punish North Korea for its nuclear weapons programme were having no impact on progress.
New images show that foundations had already been dug, concrete poured and metal structural supports installed.
In one photo construction can be seen continuing at night.
The reason for the renewed urgency is not stated in the report, but experts agree that the building is coming together quickly.
Martyn Williams and Peter Makoswky from North Korea watchdog, 38 North, analysed the project in satellite photos.
“Construction has continued at such pace that for the first time – after just under one month – the overall outline of the building is visible,” they wrote.
“Commercial satellite imagery from April 14 shows clear outlines of the two towers that will dominate the rear of the hospital.
“The rest of the building is also taking shape, including a distinctive lip that juts out from the front of the hospital.”
North Korea’s two closest neighbours have had tens of thousands of coronavirus cases, but the Kim regime says there has not been a single one within its borders.
The claim cannot be independently verified in the closed-off country and has been met with scepticism.
Most recent coverage about the disease in state media has focused on the number of cases in neighbouring South Korea.
Photos of the groundbreaking ceremony show that the new hospital will be built close to the Workers' Party Foundation Monument, near Pyongyang’s Taedong River.
