In mid-October 2024, flood recovery construction was in full swing in the Sinuiju and Uiju regions along the Chinese border, following floods that devastated northern North Korea in July. Using a super-telephoto lens, ASIAPRESS observed construction sites where numerous soldiers and shock troops were building apartments for flood victims. (JEON Sung-jun)
While North Korean authorities had set October 10, Workers' Party Foundation Day, as the deadline for flood recovery construction, it was clear during ASIAPRESS's mid-October visit that completion would take longer.
According to Korean Central News Agency reports on November 5, Kim Jong-un visited the construction sites in Sinuiju and Uiju and ordered work to be completed before the Workers' Party plenary meeting in December. This was his third visit since construction began in early August, with each visit marked by increasing pressure for rapid completion.
Throughout the sites, the ASIAPRESS team discovered serious safety violations and dangerous conditions resulting from rushed construction. Through super-telephoto footage, ASIAPRESS documented workers exposed to severe safety risks while racing to meet deadlines.
The accompanying video provides detailed documentation of conditions at these construction sites.
