Kim visits homes of workers

In another unconventional public appearance, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the homes of working people in Pyongyang, the North’s state news media said Wednesday.

Accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju, Kim visited the homes of three ordinary families who recently moved into the newly-built apartments in Pyongyang’s Changjon Street, a new town project celebrating the centenary of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung’s birth this year, said the (North) Korean Central News Agency.

In the meeting with the families of a university teacher, city employee and a newlywed couple, Kim inspected the apartment facilities and held talks with them while Ri gave them homemade food, according to the KCNA.

“The interests of the people are placed above everything else and all the policies of the party and the state are enforced to serve the people,” Kim was quoted by the KCNA as telling the families.

Kim’s unconventional visit to the homes of ordinary families follows his unusual public appearances as the leader of the reclusive country, widely believed to be aiming to promote his image as a down-to-earth leader catering to the livelihood of his people.

He was recently shown riding a scantly-guarded wooden boat to visit a border-area artillery unit, while North Korean media aired the image of him riding a roller coaster with top officials. 

(Yonhap News)