Changchun, China -- North Korean authorities are relocating the No. 95 Munitions Factory in Hyesan in order to facilitate Kim Jong Il's field visits to Yangkang Province by rail.

A source from Yangkang Province said in a phone conversation with Daily NK on the 4th, "Under the name of the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party a final decree was issued last February which urged, 'Complete the relocation of Factory No. 95 by May at all costs!’ So the task of dismantling and packing the present factory equipment has begun."

The source explained the story behind the factory's move, "The factory is located approximately 800 meters from 'Wangduk Station,' which is exclusively used by Kim Jong Il. But since the explosion incident at Yongcheun Station in 2004, the General has not used it."

He explained why; "Kim comes to Yangkang Province at least once a year, but concerned about a possible chemical explosion at Factory No. 95 similar to the one at Yongcheun Station, he has not used the No. 1 Train (Kim's private train) and has been travelling here by car." He further elaborated that for such onsite inspections Kim uses the Chongjin-Daehongdan-Samjiyeon-Hyesan route.

The source continued, "The relocation of Factory No. 95 has been proposed many times in the past, but preparations have been inadequate, so it has been continuously postponed. As a result, the Military Commission issued the decree, urging, 'Quickly relocate, even if preparations are not complete."

Early last year, North Korea chose Baekwoon-ri in Gusung, North Pyongan Province as the site of the relocated factory and had started dismantling the facility, but due to delays in the construction of housing for factory workers, the relocation was not completed.

Factory No. 95, which is currently located in Gumsan-dong of Hyesan, Yangkang Province, has "Samjiyeon Precision Machinery Factory" hanging outside, but it is best known as a munitions factory under the auspices of the so-called Second Economy, the munitions economy, which specializes in producing bullets and automatic rifles."

The factory is located in a narrow valley to protect against attacks by plane or missile. The equipment for cutting and rolling steel sheets is on the ground floor, while sensitive military production equipment is apparently kept underground.

The factory has the capacity to produce more than six million rounds of bullets per month, but due to the worsening of power supplies production has decreased to two million rounds, a portion of which are exported.

The source added that the discontent of factory workers has been growing after the relocation decree was issued.

The source relayed the on-site atmosphere, "The factory is located deep in a valley, which makes it difficult for the wives of the workers to trade in the market, so most of them have been eeking out a living by farming privately in terraced fields on the steep valley sides. If the factory is moved to Gusung, North Pyongan Province in May, people cannot start cultivating the fields because they will miss the right time for planting, so the workers are very dissatisfied."