earticle

영어

This study uses a mixed methodology of satellite data and in-depth interviews to identify the influencing factors of urban construction in Pyongyang between 1990 and 2020. The satellite data analysis shows that the most influential variable in all periods was living roads, which was also confirmed by the interviews. In addition, nighttime light, access to markets, number of cars, points of interest (POIs), and access to public transport were found to have different effects depending on the time period. In terms of timing, between 1990 and 2010, construction was more prevalent on the outskirts of the city, whereas between 2010 and 2020, when Kim Jong-un took power, construction activity was centred in the city centre. The mixed methods study found that construction in North Korea is centred on Pyongyang, with regime-driven construction having a greater impact than private market construction. This study, which applies satellite data and in-depth interviews, opens up new research possibilities for North Korean studies that are limited by data scarcity and inaccessibility to the field.