NK leader orders foreign-language signs

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, front, inspects medical equipment at the Taesongsan General Hospital under construction in Pyongyang as officials look on in this picture released by the North’s Korean Central News Agency, Sunday. / Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s education abroad may be starting to show. During a recent inspection of a hospital, Kim called for signs to be written in other languages, Pyongyang’ s state media reported.

While visiting the Taesongsan General Hospital, currently under construction, Kim noted a sign written with Korean characters and said, “It is better to write signboards not only in Korean but in foreign languages,” the Korean Central News agency said.

While the international community struggles with how to rein in the Kim regime’s nuclear weapons program, Pyongyang has taken small steps to modernize its image under Kim. While the leader, thought to be 30 years old, has yet to implement reforms, some say his Swiss education could give him a different perspective than his mercurial late father, dictator Kim Jong-il.

The North this month also began loosening its restrictions on foreigners’ use of cell phones. Foreigners can now bring mobile phones into the country or rent one at the airport, a purchase a SIM card to make international calls.

However, foreigners will not be able to talk on the phone with locals, reports say.
Kim, who has promised his people he will develop the economy, last year toured several symbolic sites such as a new health center and skate park. However, many remain skeptical that the regime will implement sweeping reforms given a dearth of capital and growing international sanctions.

Kim also asked hospital officials to increase the number of signs.

“As I stressed while going round this place last year, it is important to provide all amenities favorable for healthcare and treatment of patients while building it splendidly and fashionably,” he was quoted as saying.

He underlined the need to raise “the level of science and IT in the field of medical science in order to improve healthcare.” Pyongyang has been emphasizing its IT sector as a growth engine since its successful long-range missile launch in December. <The Korea Times/Kim Young-jin>