The construction of such projects serves as a tool for propaganda, with the regime using architecture as a means to project an image of strength and modernity, while simultaneously diverting resources away from more pressing needs, such as housing, infrastructure, and social services. In addition to public works projects, the regime has also invested heavily in residential construction, as evidenced by the numerous high-rise apartment buildings that dominate the skyline of Pyongyang. While these buildings are meant to provide housing for the country's elite and showcase the regime's commitment to urban development, many of them remain unoccupied and serve as mere facade for a country struggling with housing shortages and poverty. The construction of these buildings also highlights the regime's skewed priorities, as it prioritizes the construction of luxury apartments for the wealthy and powerful over basic housing for the general population.
