Taesongsan Combined (General) Hospital in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)
DPRK state media reported on 7 March (Thursday) that the recently constructed Taeso’ngsan (Mt. Taesong) Combined Hospital (previously called the Taeso’ngsan General Hospital in state media reporting) opened after a formal ceremony attended by senior officials of the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces, Korean People’s Army [KPA] personnel who participated in the construction and “medical officers, nurses and employees of the hospital and officials in various fields who contributed to the construction.” Attending from the central leadership were 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and Director of the KPA General Logistics Department VMar Hyon Chol Hae and from the KPA’s rear services and construction organizations, Gen. Jon Chang Bok**.
Gen. Jon delivered the hospital’s opening ceremony keynote address. According to KCNA Gen. Jon said “The great Generalissimo Kim Il Sung and anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk made sure that a hospital for the service personnel was built shortly after the liberation of the country and led all the medical officers and nurses to become ardent revolutionaries with loving care. The great Generalissimo Kim Jong Il who paid deep attention to the health of the soldiers from his early years of the Songun revolutionary leadership initiated the construction of the Taesongsan Combined Hospital and dispatched a strong construction unit for it. The dear respected Supreme Commander Marshal Kim Jong Un provided field guidance to the hospital construction several times to specify the orientation and ways. He worked heart and soul to ensure that the hospital was built on the highest level. The soldier-builders successfully built the hospital, overcoming all bottlenecks and difficulties since they broke the ground.” Gen. Jon also “ underscored the need for all the medical officers, nurses and employees of the hospital to bring about a revolutionary turn in the work for promoting and protecting the health of the service personnel and thus actively contribute to bolstering up the combat capability of the revolutionary army.”
North Korean Economy Watch has Google Earth imagery of the Taeso’ngsan Combined (General) Hospital viewable here.
*Jon Chang Bok appears to have been promoted to General (taejang), as he was last known to hold the rank of Colonel-General (sangjang). His promotion does not appear to have been publicized, similar to several other KPA officials such Kang Pyo Yong in 2012 or Kim Yong Chol in 2011.
Filed under: 2013 KPA Promotions, Administration Department, Central Committee, Central Military Committee, Col. Gen. Jon Chang Bok, critical infrastructure, DPRK Cabinet, Events Management Section, Financial Planning Department, Gen. Kang Phyo Yong (MPAF), Gen. Kim Yong Chol, hospitals and health care, III Army Corps, Kim Chong-un inspections, Kim Family, Kim Jong Un Visits, Korean People's Army (KPA), Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KPA construction battalions, KPA construction brigades, KPA Large Combined Units, KPA supernumerary organizations, Ministry of Capital Construction, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (MPAF), National Defense Commission (NDC), North Korean press, Organization and Guidance Department, Party elders, Political Bureau, Secretariat, State Planning Commission (SPC), VMar Hyon Chol Hae
