Relocation of residents from Hwanggeumpyeong, the island in the Yalu River between Shinuiju and Dandong which has been designated a special economic zone, is apparently already underway, although the authorities are waiting until after the upcoming fall harvest to turn the area over to development for good.
A source in Shinujiu explained on the 13th, “On the 10th, immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony for Hwanggeumpyeong and Wihwa Islands, farmers from Hwanggeumpyeong began moving to a cooperative farm in Yongcheon County. They were being assigned to farming areas in either Yeomju or Yongcheon County.”
However, according to the source, the project to relocate Hwanggeumpyeong residents will proceed in two stages. Out of the more than 100 households on the island, half will stay until the end of November in order to gather the harvest. Hwanggeumpyong is currently engaged in rice-planting.
On the other hand, the first wave of residents targeted for relocation must be ready to leave by the end of next month. The authorities allegedly decided to wait until after the fall harvest due to concerns about securing food for border guard units and provincial cadres.
After the harvest, however, the relocation of the remaining citizens is scheduled to be completed, and zone administrators plucked from within Pyongyang and Sinujiu are expected to move in.
On this, the source added, “Jang Sung Taek has been nominated to head up the special economic zones at Hwanggeumpyeong and Wihwa Island.”
Jang Sung Taek, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the project late last week, has been heading up construction for the 2012 Strong and Prosperous State, for example on 100,000 homes in the capital, so it is not surprising that he would be involved in the new project. However, Li Zuyoung, chair of the Joint Ventures Committee, is set to deal with the various Chinese partners on a day-to-day basis.
This source added that people really have high hopes for the zone, saying, “There are high expectations not only in Shinujiu but also Pyongyang, that these special economic zones will revive the country.”
[imText1]
