The opening of Hyesan Customs House has been delayed after the facility failed a recent inspection by the central government, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in Yanggang Province told Daily NK last Thursday that the central government recently carried out an inspection of the customs house.
Inspectors from Pyongyang carried out a thorough inspection of the custom house’s preparations for the full opening of trade, including the conditions of its quarantine facilities. However, the customs house failed the inspection, with the facility’s officials being reprimanded in the process.
“The officials from Pyongyang slammed the work attitude of the custom house’s staff, saying it was nonsense to open up the place when it didn’t have even a single proper quarantine facility,” the source said.
With the central government inspection deeming Hyesan Custom House’s quarantine facilities substandard, the opening of the customs house — originally set for the week of July 17 — has been delayed, he added.
Daily NK reported recently that trading companies in Yanggang Province were busy preparing for trade after the central government issued an order to open Hyesan Customs House from mid-July and fully resume trade.
Traders are growing more and more unhappy with the delay in Hyesan Customs House’s reopening, the source said.
“With the reopening being delayed, traders who were waiting under the belief that the customs house would reopen this past week are complaining that [the authorities] will keep inspecting the place forever.
“The customs house will likely open next week [the week starting on July 24] after the problems noted by the central government inspection are eliminated, but we must wait and see because [the opening] requires approval from the central government.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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