Satellite images have captured the demolition and clearing of a large greenhouse site right next to the Kumsusan Guesthouse in Pyongyang.

An analysis of Sentinel-2A satellite images on August 17 confirmed that the large greenhouse about 700 meters east of the Kumsusan Guesthouse was demolished. Demolition of the approximately 300,000 square meter greenhouse began in early April and was completely removed a month later. So far, no new facilities have been built on the site.

In this regard, a source told Daily NK in North Korea on Tuesday: “(The destroyed greenhouse) was used both as a greenhouse of a fruit and vegetable research institute to supply Central Committee members and as a greenhouse for the Central Flower Cultivation Institute. These facilities were used for research and cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers.”

The source explained that it was a research greenhouse that examined fruits and vegetables for Central Committee officials and researched edible and ornamental flowers and special flower varieties, playing an important role in agricultural research and food supply for Central Committee officials.

According to the source’s report, the demolished greenhouse appears to have been shared by the Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute and the Pyongyang Floriculture Institute. Given the role and importance of these two institutes, there is a possibility that the greenhouse has been moved to a new location.

In the meantime, outbuildings for the Kumsusan Guesthouse are expected to be built on the cleared site.

The source told Daily NK that “(the facilities) aim to provide more accommodation and facilities for important foreign heads of state or diplomatic envoys at the state level.”

The Kumsusan Guesthouse was first unveiled in 2019 during a state visit to North Korea by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Until then, North Korea had used the Paekhwawon Guesthouse, built in 1983 in Pyongyang’s Daesong District, to accommodate foreign guests. It appears that North Korea is preparing to use the Kumsusan Guesthouse as its main accommodation for foreign dignitaries.

The source explained, “The state plans to build larger accommodations or spaces for state-level diplomatic envoys according to their rank, including lodgings, lakes and walking paths. The Paektusan Institute of Architecture was involved in the design (of the new facility), and the Military Construction Bureau of the People’s Army (Ministry of Defense) and the Seventh General Office of the Ministry of Social Security were mobilized for the demolition (of the greenhouse).”

He added: “It has not yet been decided whether the same units will be mobilized for construction and demolition. This is because demolition and construction are sometimes carried out by different agencies, and there is also the possibility that the First Brigade of the Central Committee will be deployed for construction.”

The Paektusan Institute of Architecture, established in 1982 on the orders of Kim Jong Il, was responsible for major construction projects in North Korea, including the Pyongyang Grand Theater, Changjon Street, Mirae Scientists Street, and Samjiyon City.

The First Brigade of the Central Committee receives direct orders from Kim Jong Un and is mainly responsible for building confidential facilities of the supreme leader, such as special villas (retreats), recreation facilities and hospitals of the Kim family.

Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.

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