Great changes are taking place in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the northeastern Asian country is striving to develop its economy under a new strategic line.

Various changes can be seen across the DPRK, ranging from new paint outside the buildings in Pyongyang to an increasing number of tourists visiting the capital, Kaesong and Mount Myohyang.

Since taking office at the end of 2011, top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un has attached great importance to economic development and taken a series of measures to boost the economy.

In 2018, the DPRK declared that "a new strategic line on channeling all efforts on the socialist economic construction was set forth" at the "historic" April plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

In his televised 2019 New Year speech, Kim praised his fellow comrades for "carrying out the (Workers') Party's new strategic line of concentrating all efforts on economic construction," and encouraged them to "succeed in attaining the strategic goals of national economic development and enter a new stage of growth."

In April this year, Kim said in a policy speech at the First Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK that the major task of the present stage is "to firmly consolidate the material foundation of socialism by concentrating all the efforts of the country on the economic construction," the KCNA reported.

The new strategic line has brought about positive changes everywhere in the DPRK.

The Kim Chaek and Hwanghae iron and steel complexes have updated their production system and stepped up capacity, the construction of the Orangchon hydroelectric power station has been completed, and the Tanchon power station is being built to take advantage of tidal and wind power, according to the KCNA report.

Besides, new buildings are being built, and new leisure facilities, including the famous Munsu Water Park and Mirim Riding Club, are being opened.

Huang Li from China has been to the DPRK three times since 2007. She teaches the Chinese language at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies.

There are less power failures at home and more taxis on the roads, she said, and life has become more convenient as stores of different types are opening.

She said she can even observe the changes from the university students' outfits and everyday spending.

"The DPRK has been going through a steady economic growth and people's livelihood has been improved. I'm indeed happy for the development of our neighboring country," Huang said.