{"id":4395,"date":"2020-01-03T11:54:45","date_gmt":"2020-01-03T02:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4395"},"modified":"2020-01-06T10:13:33","modified_gmt":"2020-01-06T01:13:33","slug":"samjiyon-new-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/01\/recommendations\/samjiyon-new-town\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e First-Rate Flop: \u201cWorld Class\u201d Tourist Magnet Repels Residents as Private Businesses Banned and Power Cut"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kim Jong-un seeing Samjiyon for himself. Published in November 2018 by the Rodong Sinmun.<\/p><\/div>\n

On December 2, Kim Jong-un cut a ribbon at a ceremony to mark the completion of the special tourist zone in Samjiyon County, Ryanggang Province. Despite being labelled by the regime as a \u201cclean, new city,\u201d voices of discontent have already been rising among residents, with some saying they \u201cwill be unable to live\u201d at the site. A reporting partner living in the area explained the situation.<\/p>\n

Samjiyon County is situated at the foot of Mount Baekdu, the \u201csacred site of the revolution\u201d and supposed birthplace of Kim Jong-il. (Historians agree, however, that Kim Jong-il was born in Vyatskoye, Russia.)<\/p>\n

In November 2016, Kim Jong-un ordered for Samjiyon district to be built into a world-class international tourist zone. With the order, local residents were forced to provide manpower and resources towards making the project a reality. To inspire the dedication of locals, Kim Jong-un made 3 on-site inspections to the area in 2018, followed by another 2 visits in 2019.<\/p>\n

According to official state media, the city now boasts 4,000 apartments as well as 380 hospitals, schools, and other public facilities. According to a reporting partner mobilized for the construction, all old buildings in the area were demolished, with residents moved into large, state-of-the-art apartment complexes. However, just 2 weeks since completion of the site, there is already a growing sense of dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n

The first problem regards electricity. A reporting partner in Ryanggang Province said, \u201cAs Kim Jong-un himself instructed for this area to be made into the world\u2019s best mountainous city, the apartments are spacious and have good, Chinese-made facilities. The apartments are all electrically heated to prevent the burning of firewood and coal. At the expense of other regions, electricity has been provided to us for 15 hours each day but this still leaves us without heating for 9 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reporting partner continued, \u201cMoreover, there was a power outage for 4 days straight after Kim Jong-un left. Residents say their houses are like freezers and have put mattresses across the floor to help endure the cold. Samjiyon is known as the coldest place in North Korea\u2026\u201d
\nNext page :Markets abolished, businesses banned...<\/strong>
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\u25c6 Markets abolished, businesses banned<\/h2>\n

In addition, residents are complaining about the market being abolished and businesses being banned from operating. With residents not allowed to trade, food distributions began again to provide food to locals. Residents are not happy with the situation though, as their source of cash income is now blocked.<\/p>\n

The reporting partner explained, \u201cAlthough Samjiyon is being giving special status like Pyongyang and getting modernized, nearby residents of Hyesan city and other local people do not want to live in Samjiyon. It is located very deep in the North Korean mountains, where only potatoes can be grown. If it is cold and businesses are banned, you cannot live there. Even if I was offered money to live there, I would refuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the other hand, some locals expect to see a rise in the number of Chinese tourists to the area. After Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang last June, unconfirmed rumors flew around that the Chinese President had promised \u201cto send 100 million Chinese tourists to Samjiyon upon completion of the site.\u201d (Kang Ji-won \/ ISHIMARU Jiro)<\/p>\n

\u203bASIAPRESS contacts reporting partners in North Korea through smuggled Chinese mobile phones.<\/p>\n

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A map of the Samjiyon area (produced by ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

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