This undated picture released from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Oct 14, 2020 shows DPRK leader Kim Jong-un (center) inspecting the rehabilitation site in the Komdok area of South Hamgyong province, DPRK. The province has been battered by typhoons. (KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-un promised to help typhoon-hit areas recover and to build at least 25,000 houses over the next five years, state media reported on Wednesday.

DPRK leader Kim Jong-un promised to build at least 25,000 houses over the next five years, state media reported

Visiting one of the worst-hit areas of DPRK, Kim expressed regret over the more than 50-year-old houses in which people have been living and urged the military to embark on a more ambitious construction plan, KCNA reported.

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The military has reached a construction level of 60 percent for at least 2,300 houses in the Komdok area in South Hamgyong province, northeast of the capital, Pyongyang, the state media reported.

Kim said new houses were now only built when the old ones were brought down by natural disasters, and called for a "revolution" in construction plans, starting with building 25,000 houses during his five-year plan set to be unveiled in January.

This undated picture released from DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Oct 14, 2020 shows the rehabilitation site in the Komdok area of South Hamgyong province. (KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)

Last week, Kim called on his country to embark on an 80-day "speed battle" - to attain economic goals before a congress in January to decide the new five-year plan.

READ MORE: DPRK's Kim lays out 80-day campaign to attain goals this year

"Workers in all sectors and units of the national economy are coming out in the all-out campaign," KCNA said on Wednesday.

The effort focuses on boosting production of unspecified materials and equipment, harvesting seasonal crops, storm relief work, and steps to prevent any virus outbreak, KCNA added.

DPRK has had a tough year because of the impact of anti-coronavirus measures, international sanctions and several typhoons that battered towns.