A new appearance of Pyongyang where sky scrapers were built along the River Taedong and the Ryomyong Street took a new city-like shape is receiving everyday media coverage, the article noted, adding:

It is known that the north has undergone an extreme economic hardship. So everyone is surprised to see the grand construction taking place there. As such construction is brisk in the era of Kim Jong Un, it is appreciated as "latent power of the north surviving sanctions".

Chairman Kim Jong Un exerted much effort on building new structures, and typical one is Pyongyang International Airport.

The article also carried DPRK media reports that he inspected the airport under construction several times and guided the work to build it into an excellent structure symbolic of the era.

Under his direction, Changjon Street, People's Theater, Rungna People's Pleasure Park, Ryugyong Health Complex, People's Open-air Ice Rink and others were built in Pyongyang in 2012 alone, the article said, adding:

Chairman of the National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il concentrated efforts on the construction of large structures. As a result, the north achieved such successes as building Changgwang Street, Munsu Street, the Tower of the Juche Idea, the Arch of Triumph, the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital and many other streets and edifices in Pyongyang.

Chairman Kim Jong Un, too, puts efforts into construction and architecture, the article said, detailing the fact that he visited Pyongyang University of Architecture, projected it as the center for training talent architects and became its honorary president.

South Korean personages who visited the north would say that they were surprised to see the development of Pyongyang and that the economy of the north is improving despite sanctions, the article added.