Sources have informed The Daily NK that the North Korean authorities have launched the process of selecting workers to dispatch to Rasun Special City in order to fulfill a development and investment agreement made with China.
North Korea and China reportedly signed the investment agreement in December, covering the construction of three additional docks at Rasun Port and an expressway and railroad between Quanhe in Jilin, China and Rasun.
Accordingly, the authorities have apparently started recruiting workers from enterprises and factories in North Hamkyung Province.
According to the source, during the process of recruitment the authorities are focusing on ideological education in order to block off the winds of change, telling the applicants not to harbor any illusion for China, that China is a capitalist society, and that the will of the General (for the construction of Juche socialism) will not change. Workers are keen to go, competing for positions by offering bribes, according to the source.
The source from Chongjin explained, “In the Second Metals Complex in Chongjin they had the first business discussion of this year on the 3rd, attended by managers and heads of around 40 enterprises and factories under the Complex; they discussed worker numbers for the construction.”
According to him, each enterprise cadre was keen to win the right to select more workers.
In education for workers, one cadre stated, “Never throw away your faith in socialism. If we get through a few more difficulties and construct a strong and prosperous state, we can live better than China. I will replace the workers for Rasun Special City construction once every six months so that all workers can take part in it.”
Another source reported, “Workers from every factory and enterprise are clamoring to take part in the construction. Even though some workers offer expensive cigarettes to cadres so as to be on the list, they still tend to put their acquaintances on the list.”
He added, “Workers who lose the chance are lamenting that this is a world where only powerful people can survive.”
The reason why workers are so keen on the construction position is that they can purchase Chinese goods comparatively cheaply there and send them to their wives so that the wives can sell them in markets to make a living. Additionally, they can receive distribution for their families as well as themselves from the authorities.
The sources said, “This year, because the construction of Rasun City has started actively, workers are expecting a better life.”
