{"id":4418,"date":"2020-01-14T10:19:40","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T01:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4418"},"modified":"2020-01-17T11:17:08","modified_gmt":"2020-01-17T02:17:08","slug":"2019-border-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/01\/news\/2019-border-2\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cLatest Photo Report\uff1e A Trip to the North Korea-China (Part 2: No More North Korean Refugees at the Tight Tumen River Border)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Both sides of the Tumen River are lined with barbed wire fence. Rason City, as photographed from the Chinese side of the border by ISHIMARU Jiro.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Tumen River marks the border between North Korea and China\u2019s eastern border. Since the mid-1990\u2019s, an enormous number of hungry North Koreans have crossed stretches of the 600-kilometer-long river into the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Territory. This number is estimated to be close to 2 million people.<\/p>\n

Of that total, 90% are thought to have returned to North Korea for the purpose of bringing back cash and food to their loved ones. The 10% who chose to not return became known as North Korean refugees. In the old days, there were no barbed-wire fences and surveillance cameras were a rarity.<\/p>\n

In the last 6-7 years, however, there has been no sight of North Korean refugees living in China. This is because security at the border has become incredibly tight on both sides.<\/p>\n

\u25c6 Strict vigilance and harsh punishments at the Tumen River<\/h2>\n

In 2014, the Chinese government completed setting up a system of barbed-wire fences and surveillance cameras along its borders. The system was designed to block thieves, smugglers, and drug dealers, along with defectors coming in from North Korea.<\/p>\n

After Kim Jong-un took office, barbed wire was put up on the North Korean side as well. The reason was to prevent citizens from fleeing to China.<\/p>\n

\uff1cInside N.Korea\uff1e Second DMZ Created at Sino-Korean Border<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Compared to the Yalu River in the west, security along the Tumen River is more severe. Foreigners have not been allowed access to the upper reaches of the Tumen River since 2016. At checkpoints stand soldiers of People\u2019s Liberation Army and Border Guard, automatic rifles in hand.<\/p>\n

Another reason why North Koreans no longer defect here is that the Korean-Chinese community on the Chinese side of the Tumen River has all but disappeared. 20 years ago, the Korean-Chinese population stood at 1.9 million people across China\u2019s 3 northeastern provinces. This population has since dispersed, with 600,000 making their way to South Korea, 100,000 coming to Japan, and many more relocating to large Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian, and Shanghai.<\/p>\n

The majority of Korean-Chinese farming villages along the Tumen River have either become abandoned or inhabited by Han Chinese. The ethnic Korean population, which used to help or hide North Korean refugees, is no longer present.<\/p>\n

\u203b All photographs were taken in September 2019 by ISHIMARU Jiro.<\/p>\n

\uff1cLatest Photo Report\uff1e A Trip to the North Korea-China Border (Part 1: The View Along the Yalu River)<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next page :Onseong County, North Hamkyung Province...<\/strong>
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\nPhoto 1<\/p>\n

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Onseong County, North Hamkyung Province, as seen from Tumen City, Jilin Province. The mountainside is in a sorry state because all the trees have been cut down. It is a peaceful landscape but, looking closely, one can see that there are barbed wire fences on both sides of the river.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photo 2<\/span><\/p>\n

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The building, which appears to be a North Korean border guard post, has surveillance cameras and is surrounded by barbed wire fence.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photo 3 <\/span><\/p>\n

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Barbed wire fence on the Chinese side prevents access to the Tumen River. Tumen City, Jilin Province.<\/p><\/div>\n

Next page :A standard roadside checkpoint...<\/strong>
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\nPhoto 4<\/p>\n

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A standard roadside checkpoint in Jilin Province. Public security officers take pictures of all bus passengers\u2019 ID cards and passports with their smartphones.<\/p><\/div>\n

Map<\/span><\/p>\n

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Map of the China-North Korea border region (produced by ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

Photo 5<\/span><\/p>\n

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A railway bridge over the Tumen River connecting Russia and North Korea. The East Sea lies 10 kilometers in the distance. Bangcheon, Hunchun City, Jilin Province.<\/p><\/div>\n

Next page :A Chinese man stands in the Tumen River...<\/strong>
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\nPhoto 6<\/p>\n

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A Chinese man stands in the Tumen River and works on something. Bangcheon, Hunchun City, Jilin Province.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photo 7<\/span><\/p>\n

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Chinese military facilities. Immediately to the left is Russian territory. Bangcheon, Hunchun City, Jilin Province.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photo 8<\/span><\/p>\n

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A railway on the North Korean side. The slogan reads, \u201cLove live the great Juche ideology.\u201d Rason, North Hamkyung Province.<\/p><\/div>\n

Next page :A North Korean border guard post...<\/strong>
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Photo 9<\/span><\/p>\n

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A North Korean border guard post. Two soldiers can be seen inside. Rason, North Hamkyung Province.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photo 10<\/p>\n

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There are 7 trade districts in the Tumen River region. Pictured is the trade district closest to the river\u2019s mouth. On the North Korean side is a special economic zone. The photograph was taken on a holiday, so there was not much activity at the site.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photo 11<\/p>\n

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A modern customs facility built on the North Korean side. Rason, North Hamkyung Province.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photo 12<\/p>\n

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A facility for Chinese tourists was recently built next to the customs facilities. Rason, North Hamkyung Province.<\/p><\/div>\n

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\uff1cRelated Article\uff1e<\/div>\n