There were substantial security and restriction measures in force in the area surrounding Shinuiju Station from the day before Kim Jong Il passed through the area last week, even including one group of hapless passengers who were forced to stay on a train for the whole night.

One source from Shinuiju reported the news, saying, “From the night before, there were more National Security and People’s Safety agents in Shinuiju Station than people taking trains.”

According to the source, the security authorities completely suspended train services from the night of the 26th, ordered people to leave and then shut the whole station down.

“Last night, a train between Shinuiju and Chongjin which was due to leave at 11:05 PM was kept parked in the sidings and the passengers made to stay inside it for more than ten hours in order to block their moves, so people were really unhappy about that,” the source added.

He went on, “After about 12 hours, this morning, maybe at around 10 AM, the train was able to depart. No sellers with street stalls could be seen out the front of the station, and the surroundings were flat quiet.”

Another source said, “The border guard unit mobilized all military officials to stand guard. Since the day before yesterday agents from the NSA and PSM had been watching people passing near the station.”

He added, “Cadres from the Ministry of Railways examined the railroads and destroyed walls around it with workers from Shinuiju Railways Office.”

He explained the atmosphere of the station further, saying “From 6PM yesterday till 10AM this morning, they checked people passing by the station, and around 50 soldiers in uniform were stood along the railroad.”

Regarding No. 1 Events and their relationship to the railways, one defector who used to work for Hamheung’s railways explained, “When we got a message about a No. 1 Event, a day in advance of it we had to organize a group of loyal and diligent workers to check out the surroundings of the railway and the railroad itself.”

As reported, Kim Jong Il passed through Shinuiju Station after leaving Dandong at 6:30 AM on the 27th. According to Chosun Central News Agency, Kim Jong Eun came to Shinuiju to fetch his father.