Pyongyang, January 20,2026: In 2025, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has witnessed an unprecedented frequency of public speeches by its leader, Kim Jong Un, reflecting what officials describe as a period of rapid transformation across the country.
Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, delivered speeches at more than 20 events during the year, most notably at groundbreaking and inauguration ceremonies linked to major construction, industrial, and development projects. His remarks, often described as confident and passionate, have offered insight into the priorities and pace of change in the DPRK during 2025.
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony on February 16, 2025, for the fourth stage of a project to build 10,000 flats in Pyongyang’s Hwasong area, Kim Jong Un acknowledged the intensity of the development drive. “To be frank, these days I am really tired and busy attending inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies that have been scheduled one after another. We are facing such moments of drastic change,” he said.
Even before that date, Kim Jong Un had attended several high profile events, including the inauguration of regional industry factories in Jaeryong County and groundbreaking ceremonies for the Kangdong County Hospital and leisure complex, the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm and vegetable science research centre, and the Ragwon County Offshore Farm. These activities coincided with inauguration ceremonies of modern regional industry factories in 18 cities and counties, marking the first year of the Regional Development 20×10 Policy.
Similar ceremonies continued throughout the year, celebrating milestones such as the completion of the third stage of the Hwasong housing project, the launching of two destroyers of the Korean People’s Army Navy, and the opening of major facilities including the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, Pyongyang General Hospital, Kangdong County Hospital, and the Hoeyang Army People Power Station. New industrial facilities and rural villages were reported to have been built across the country, alongside the completion of key projects such as the first stage of the Tanchon Power Station and the modernization of the Ryongsong Machine Complex.
As part of the second year of the regional development policy, modern industry factories were constructed in 20 cities and counties, while healthcare facilities and leisure complexes continued to take shape nationwide.
At many of these ceremonies, Kim Jong Un used his speeches to motivate and encourage the public. Speaking at the inauguration of Kangdong County Hospital, he reportedly stated that “proclaiming inauguration in the year of groundbreaking is the standard speed of achieving our ideals,” adding that “we can confidently call 2025 a year of amazing transformation.”
Taken together, the scale of construction activity and the leader’s frequent public appearances underscore what state media and officials characterize as a defining theme for the DPRK in 2025: rapid and visible transformation.
