Kim Jong-un Prioritizes Hospital Project in Pyongyang

North Korea is prioritizing the construction of a general hospital in Pyongyang amid the coronavirus scare.

Leader Kim Jong-un symbolically broke ground and gave a speech at the site on Tuesday.

Kim called the project an "important matter that the entire country should give top priority to" and ordered officials to finish it by Oct. 10, the 75th anniversary of the Workers Party, and supply the necessary materials and equipment as quickly as possible.

The Rodong Shinmun daily urged workers to join the struggle "unconditionally."

All propaganda efforts are likely to focus on the project for the time being, perhaps to divert people's attention from the economic difficulties due to sanctions and the coronavirus epidemic.