Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Korean on September 18.
North Korea reportedly mobilized residents of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province, en masse to fix up Kim Jong Un’s local residence and roads in the area.
Some suggested that the development was aimed at speeding up the modernization of Samjiyon given Kim Jong Un’s recent criticism of the construction of the railroad linking Hyesan and Samjiyon during his visit to the area. However, that the major mobilization of people occurred right before President Moon Jae In’s visit to Pyongyang suggested that it was linked with the summit. Indeed, President Moon and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un visited the site on September 21.
“A large number of people were mobilized to fix up the Samjiyon special residence and road around September 8,” a Ryanggang Province-based source reported to Daily NK on September 18.
“The mobilization occurred following an order to fix up the areas and was devoid of any special explanation why.”
Another Ryanggang Province-based source told Daily NK, “The entire population of Ryanggang Province [was] being mobilized to work on the road between Hyesan and Samjiyon,” and that, “Workers [were] selected from each enterprise to work on the roads, and sections of the road [were] being divided among them.”
The materials being used to fix up the road are being supplied by each enterprise and the workers are living at the construction sites, he said.
At the time, it wasn’t clear whether President Moon would visit Samjiyon, he added, “But people [were] saying that a special visitor [was] coming so that’s why there [was all that] hurry to fix things up.”
President Moon’s official schedule, which was announced on September 17, made no mention of visiting Samjiyon. The first day (September 18) included an official welcome ceremony, followed by a meeting with Kim Jong Un, the viewing of a welcome arts performance, and then a welcome dinner. The second day (September 19) included a second meeting with Kim, lunch at the Okryukwan, visits to major sights in Pyongyang, and a farewell dinner. The final day included a farewell ceremony.
Im Jong Seok, the Blue House Chief of Staff and the head of preparations for the inter-Korean summit, told reporters, “There may be time set aside for the two leaders to spend time with each other on September 20, depending on the situation. This may change the overall schedule of the visit.” This left open the possibility of a surprise visit to Samjiyon.
During the April summit, Moon said, “I want to go to Mt Paektu via North Korea,” with Kim responding, “I will help you do that if you come.”
Asia Press, a Japanese media outlet, reported that a source living in Ryanggang Province told the outlet that Moon could visit Mt Paektu.
According to the report, the source said, “North Korea has mobilized factories, government agencies and inminbans [local neighborhood-watch-like organizations] en masse to fix up the road from Hyesan to Samjiyon from September 13 in preparation for Moon’s visit to Mt Baekdu. Major figures from the central and provincial government are gathering in Samjiyon.”
Asia Press explained that various contingencies like the weather had led the North Korean authorities to mobilize the population to fix up the road from Hyesan to Samjiyon in a hurry because authorities would have to use the Hwangsuwon Airport instead of the Samjiyon Airport. The outlet also reported that government agencies and the local border control were being completely mobilized to ensure nothing went wrong.
