Kim Jong Un, chairman of the North Korean State Affairs Commission, noted that the 53-story apartment in Pyongyang, which he referred to as a "palatial dwelling," is facing the risk of collapse just 10 years after its completion, according to a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 24th.
RFA quoted a source in Nason City stating, "Residents of the 53-story apartment, the tallest building in Pyongyang Future Scientist Street, are trembling with anxiety," adding, "This is due to concerns that the building might collapse."
Future Scientist Street is a residential area created in the center of Pyongyang for the first time since Kim Jong Un came to power. The controversial apartment was completed in November 2015. The North Korean authorities named it the 'Galaxy Apartment.' At the top of the apartment, there is a symbolic tower shaped like the Earth and a satellite, standing 24 meters tall and weighing over 40 tons. The total number of households is reported to be 2,584, mainly occupied by scientists and engineers involved in nuclear and missile development.
It has been reported that since 2 to 3 years ago, cracks have appeared in the apartment's exterior, and issues with plastering and tiles falling off have been recurring. In particular, some residents have brought up the 2014 apartment collapse incident, according to RFA. On May 13, 2014, a 23-story apartment in the Pyongchon District's Ansan 1-dong collapsed, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
The increasing concerns about the apartment's collapse seem to stem from the so-called "speed battle." Despite being a 53-story building, it was completed in just 9 months with the mobilization of military forces. The source said, "All apartments built during Kim Jong Un's era are problematic," adding, "If you look at the newly constructed streets or apartments, the exteriors may seem fine, but the quality of the buildings is worse than those built in the past."