North Korea has recently begun modernizing equipment at the Wonjong-ri customs house’s inspection station, a facility located Rason, North Hamgyong Province.
According to a Daily NK source in North Korea, the Ministry of State Security and the technology management department of the Wonjong-ri customs house are installing equipment based on new, locally developed technology in the facility’s traveller inspection station.
The source said the newly developed equipment is “standardized equipment” that authorities believe will contribute to building a centralized general control system by digitizing, storing and accumulating data on individuals entering the country through customs.
North Korea also issued instructions to enhance central government control over customs-related processes.
The instructions called for the installation of new equipment at state-designated inspection stations to inspect inbound travelers and items. The instructions also ordered inspection agency officials to learn the principles of using the new equipment “so as to improve the accuracy of inspections through the equipment newly adopted along the border.”
The source said the Ministry of State Security is leading efforts to modernize the equipment at Wonjong-ri “as part of a technological preparation phase with a view to [eventually] attract tourism and restart trade.”
According to him, the ministry imported the equipment for the new system and the ministry’s communications bureau has led efforts to develop it.
North Korea’s government has ordered that the modernization of the inspection station be completed by the end of January.
“Customs staff and their families are working hard because they see signs that the customs house will open,” the source said.
The source added that following the government’s “standardized equipment” order, efforts to modernize systems at several other customs houses are ongoing as well.
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