＜Super-telephoto Lens Report＞ Sakju (2): Residents Trapped Behind Barbed Wire... Middle School Students Pointing and Laughing, Soldiers Quietly Observing (10 photos)
A North Korean soldier on duty in a semi-underground guard post called a "concealment post." He appears to be communicating with headquarters via landline. When electricity is out, they can maintain contact using backup batteries.
◆ Laundry and Swimming in the Yalu River Are Now Things of the Past
The Yalu River, flowing along the North Korea-China border, was once a vital source of daily water for North Korean residents. Beyond drinking water, it was common to see people doing laundry by the riverbank, swimming, and fishing with nets.
However, that's now history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kim Jong-un regime strengthened border security by installing multiple layers of barbed wire to prevent border crossings and defections to China. Residents can no longer even approach the riverbank.
In mid-October, ASIAPRESS surveyed the area downstream of the Supung Dam, a famous scenic spot. Across the river is Sakju County, North Pyongan Province. Using a super telephoto lens from the Chinese side of the border, we captured images of civilians and soldiers confined behind the barbed wire. (HONG Mari)
Sakju photographed in September 2019. Before the pandemic, it was common to see civilians doing laundry by the river and drying clothes on rocks. While laundry was hard labor for women, the scene of mothers doing laundry with their children on nice days had a pastoral quality.Also from September 2019. The clean Yalu River was rich with freshwater fish. Scenes of net fishing by the riverbank are now rarely seen.A fisherman casting a net in the Yalu River. They fish with special permission from authorities.Three border guard soldiers at their post. One was watching us from behind a bicycle. The post's broken window was patched with tape. A surveillance camera is visible in front.Zooming in shows he appeared to be fixing the bicycle outside. When our boat approached, he sat as if hiding behind the bicycle, watching us with smiles.A soldier on duty at a higher elevation post. He's wearing a winter uniform with a military chest rig. Laundry was drying.Corn is visible through gaps in the inner building, likely a farm storage facility. Someone working on the roof appears to be a farm worker. Perhaps they're rebuilding farm facilities washed away by floods in late July.The small temporary structure next to the vegetable field is a guard post to prevent crop theft. From summer through harvest season, they take turns staying overnight to guard the fields. The person sitting appears to be a woman.Five boys were pointing at us and laughing playfully. They may have come down the mountain to fetch water with containers. They appear to be elementary or middle school students.North Korea map (ASIAPRESS)
※ All photos are from Sakju County, North Pyongan Province. Photographed from the Chinese side of the border in October 2024 by ASIAPRESS (except the two photos from 2019)
