Ceremony Opens U’nha Scientists’ Street in Pyongyang

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju delivers a speech at a ceremony opening the U’nha Scientists’ Street residential area in Pyongyang on 11 September 2013. Also seen in attendance are Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Jang Jong Nam (2nd R) and Director of the KPA General Political Department VMar Choe Ryong Hae (R) (Photo: KCTV screengrab).

A ceremony opening the U’nha Scientists’ Street, a residential area in Pyongyang for research scientists and technicians, was held on 11 September (Wednesday).  Attending the ceremony were Pak Pong Ju (DPRK Premier), VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), along with “other senior officials of the party, state and army, officials concerned and service personnel of the Korean People’s Army and the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces, and officials and builders and those scientists and technicians who are to live in the new flats.”  Mun Kyong Dok, Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Committee, and Pak Pong Ju spoke at the ceremony.

According to KCNA in his speech, Pak “emphasized the need to regard it as main objective of construction to build dwelling houses and rest houses for personnel in the fields of science and education in the future as intended by Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) and implement the party’s idea of attaching importance to science and technology” and “called upon the officials and workers in charge of the management and the operation of those apartment houses, public buildings and welfare service facilities in the street to manage and operate all buildings and facilities in a responsible manner by embodying Kim Jong Il’s (Kim Cho’ng-il) patriotism to make sure that the party’s love for people reaches the scientists and technicians before anyone else.”  Pak also “called upon those scientists and technicians to achieve more fresh successes in their scientific researches to repay with more latest scientific successes the love and trust of Kim Jong Un, who provided modern dwelling houses and highly civilized and happy living conditions to them.”

Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang KWP Committee Mun Kyong Dok C) speaks during the ceremony opening the U’nha Scientists’ Street. Also seen in attendance are Minister of People’s Security Choe Pu Il (L) and President of the Second Academy of Natural Sciences Choe Chun Sik (R) (Photo: KCTV screengrab).

KPISF and KPA construction personnel, along with new residents, attend the U’nha Scientists’ Street grand opening in Pyongyang on 11 September 2013 (Photos: KCTV screengrabs).

Senior officials of the DPRK leadership attend the ceremony including KWP Secretaries Kim Ki Nam (4th R), Choe Tae Bok (3rd R), Pak To Chun 2nd R) and SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop (R) (Photos: KCTV screengrabs).

Pak Pong Ju cuts a ceremonial tape opening the U’nha Scientists Stree in Pyongyang (Photo: KCTV screengrab).

After the speeches, Pak Pong Ju cut a ceremonial red ribbon  and ceremony participants toured the U’nha Scientists’ Street.

Yonhap noted that among the members of the DPRK central leadership attending the ceremony was Choe Chun Sik, President of the Second Academy of Natural Sciences.  Choe toured the scientists’ residential area with Kim Jong Un the previous day, and had last been prominently seen attending various celebratory and commemorative events following the DPRK’s launch of the U’nha-3 in December 2012.  At the opening ceremony, Choe was seen attired in a KPA dress uniform with the rank of Lt. General (sangjang) on the shoulder boards.  Also attending the ceremony was KWP Secretary Pak To Chun, a key leading manager of the DPRK weapons industry and Choe Chun Sik’s nominal boss.

Choe Chun Sik (annotated), President of the Second Academy of Natural Sciences, visits the scientists street with Kim Jong Un (L) and attends the opening ceremony (Photos: Rodong Sinmun, KCTV screengrab).

Pak Pong Ju, VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Gen. Jang Jong Nam, Pak To Chun and Kim Ki Nam tour an apartment in the U’nha Scientists’ Street in Pyongyang (Photos: KCTV screengrabs).

 

Mun Kyong Dok, Kim Ki Nam, Gen. Jang Jong Nam, Yang Hyong Sop and Pak Pong Ju tour a classroom in the U’nha Scientists Street in Pyongyang (Photos: KCTV screengrabs).