Mysterious Military Industry City Manpo (2) - Civilian Life at the Border: Harvesting with Ox Carts, Children Sleeping on Handcarts (10 Photos)
Nestled in a deep mountainous region, Jagang Province serves as North Korea's military industrial hub. Recent reports indicate that a U.S. think tank has identified previously unknown missile bases in the area. The province is so tightly controlled that even North Korean citizens face strict restrictions on entering the region. Despite its shared border with China, surprisingly few defectors come from this area. In mid-October, ASIAPRESS captured these rare images of Manpo city from across the border in Jian city, China's Jilin Province, offering a glimpse into daily life in this secretive region. (HONG Mari)
A charcoal-powered vehicle stopped at a checkpoint, emitting white smoke. In energy-deficient North Korea, imported Chinese vehicles are converted to run on charcoal.A village spread out in a deep valley. Cultivated fields can be seen scattered on the mountain behind. Barbed wire is strung on the white poles at the bottom of the photo.Perhaps a pepper field in front. Farm workers are loading harvested crops onto an ox cart. Oxen are communal property of the farm and remain indispensable for farming.Corn drying abundantly on the roof. Corn is a staple food, eaten as rice or porridge when dried and ground, or made into noodles as flour. Children are sleeping on a handcart in front.A woman's bicycle basket has a registration card showing "Manpo" as her place of residence.Farm workers returning for their lunch break. They're carrying straw, possibly for animal feed. Corn is drying on the roof of the inner house.A child wearing an oversized adult top. Perhaps with their mother beside them, jumping and following behind. In North Korea, if parents are farm workers, children must also become farm workers.At a checkpoint, a soldier wearing an "inspector" armband is talking with a soldier in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.What appears to be a private home under repair. For security, the door is made of steel, and the locking mechanism is hidden. White handprints on the wall, possibly from children playing.This appears to be a limestone or cement factory. Though visibly aged, it seems to be operational.Map of North Korea (ASIAPRESS)
※All photos of the city of Manpo, Jagang Province. Photographed from the Chinese side of the border in October 2024, ASIAPRESS
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