[imText1]The atmosphere in Namyang, a town in North Hamkyung Province which Kim Jong Il’s private train passed through at dawn today on the way to the nearby border crossing at Tumen, was apparently tense all last night.
A source from Namyang reported to The Daily NK this morning, “People’s Safety Ministry agents have been in groups on the streets talking about preparing ‘an event’ since yesterday evening, patrolling and regulating people’s activities. Even though there was no word about who would be coming, it had the feel of a No. 1 event.”
The source explained further, “Since dates and locations of No. 1 events are not fixed, people have to be on stand-by indefinitely. The priorities then are things like People’s Safety Ministry patrols and street cleaning by the people.”
However, he went on, “On this occasion there were no such decrees, so people didn’t know there would be an event. But they felt it in the moves of the PSA.”
The authorities also, in advance of Kim’s transit, ordered the repair of the railroad down which the train would pass.
A source from Chongjin reported the news, saying, “On around April 20th there was a decree from the center to repair the railroads in northern provinces, so workers from the Department of Railways and citizens were mobilized for work every day. They cleaned the roads alongside the rails, graveled the road, painted banners with slogans and so on. And, workers from the railways maintenance office were also harassed to change the rails.”
However, there was no difference in the guard around the Namyang Station; Kim simply passed through at dawn.
Sources from the Tumen River area of China also missed the event due to its timing. According to one, “We didn’t know anything. It was really quiet and there was absolutely no difference in atmosphere.”
