Across the Yalu River, skepticism on Sinuiju

Home > National > Politics

print dictionary print

Across the Yalu River, skepticism on Sinuiju

SHENYANG, China -- "Sinuiju development? It is out of the question."

That is the sentiment held by the majority of Chinese merchants of Korean heritage in Shenyang and Dandong who have business ties in Sinuiju, the North Korean border city designated as a special administrative district.

One of them, based in Shenyang, said Sunday that no-visa entry is a far-fetched notion. "You needed a formal visa and a separate entry authorization," he said, speaking of his trip to Sinuiju on Tuesday. "Maybe in 10 years," he continued, "but to talk about development now is just ludicrous."

Sinuiju sits on almost barren land, the merchants said, and there is so far no sign of the minimum work indicating the beginning of development. The merchant who spoke to the Joongang Ilbo gave the Amnok River Hotel in Sinuiju as an example. The room charge was $60, an expensive sum by North Korean standards, and especially so as there was no running water in the toilet and the room lighting wavered from the unstable power supply. "The food was terrible and overpriced," he added.

Another cause for pessimism is the man chosen to run the district, the Chinese-Dutch entrepreneur Yang Bin. His business is largely based here, the centerpiece being the Netherlands Village, which he is still in the process of developing. The project has grown to nearly four times its initially authorized size, and many farmers in the surrounding areas have been forced to surrender their lands for it, sources here said. The merchant said many farmers have been seen protesting in front of the Shenyang city government office. The expansion of the plan may also have involved illegal zoning changes, the sources said.

Whether Mr. Yang will be able to mobilize the funds needed to develop Sinuiju is also questioned. "There is no cash at the company," said an official with Mr. Yang's Euro-Asia Group. Asked about Mr. Yang's wealth, which has been estimated at about $900 million, the official said, "The reality is different." All he has heard about the resources needed to develop Sinuiju was that "General Kim Jong-il would supply the labor."

by Jin Se-keun

Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)