Project Completion and Scale Confirmed North Korea announced on Feb 17 2026 that the massive housing drive delivering 50,000 residential flats in Pyongyang is finished, with 40,000 units built in Songsin and Songhwa in 2022 and the remaining 10,000 completed in Hwasong by early 2026 [2][3]. KCNA framed the achievement as a “top‑priority task of the historic eighth Workers’ Party congress” and an “epoch‑making success” in the new era of national rejuvenation [2][3]. South Korean officials had predicted the deadline would be met before the ninth party congress, a forecast the regime appears to have satisfied [2][3].

Kim Jong‑un and Ju‑ae Attend Inauguration The inauguration ceremony on Feb 17 featured Kim Jong‑un and his daughter Ju‑ae, who publicly embraced residents of the new complex, a rare appearance that fuels speculation about her succession prospects [2][3]. Kim pledged a “more gigantic construction project” and promised a “greater milestone” to be unveiled at the upcoming ninth party congress, emphasizing five more years of “perfect implementation” [2][3]. The event underscored the regime’s use of large‑scale construction to showcase political legitimacy and future leadership narratives [2][3].

Fifth Stage Groundbreaking Marks New Phase On Feb 18, Kim Jong‑un personally broke ground on the fifth stage of the housing project in the Hwasong district, digging the first spadeful of earth in a ceremony reported by KCNA [1]. The new phase targets an additional 10,000 units, extending the Hwasong development that began in 2023 and aligning the rollout with the ninth Workers’ Party congress slated for late February [1]. Kim described the work as “the mettle of our struggle,” linking it to broader revolutionary transformation and a “facelift” for Pyongyang’s urban landscape [1].

Political Context and Future Plans The timing of both the project’s completion and the fifth‑stage launch is intended to provide a showcase for the ninth party congress, where the regime will likely present the housing drive as a flagship achievement while outlining new economic, defense and diplomatic priorities [1][2][3]. Kim also announced plans for new cultural service projects to meet citizens’ growing cultural needs, positioning the capital as a hub of “advanced culture and civilization” [1]. South Korean analysts view these announcements as part of a broader strategy to project internal stability and external confidence ahead of upcoming diplomatic engagements [2][3].