North Korean soldiers in Kangwon Province were sent to work on construction projects in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Region from late last year, Daily NK has learned.<\/p>\n
“After visiting Kangwon Province late last year, the Supreme Leader [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un] ordered new construction in the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Region and soldiers stationed in Kangwon Province were sent to work on the projects,” a Kangwon Province-based source told Daily NK yesterday.<\/p>\n
Kim’s orders reportedly included instructions that Mt. Kumgang become a “famous mountain envied by the world.” He also ordered that the construction work focus on quality to ensure the buildings stand for “10,000 years” while also adhering to Korean-style architectural design as much as possible.<\/p>\n
“There were slogans posted all around promoting the idea that Mt. Kumgang needs to become a [world] famous mountain – just like Samjiyon had become a city filled with world-class buildings,” the source said. “Soldiers are tearing down old houses and constructing new apartment buildings. They are also expanding the roads.”<\/p>\n
There is also construction work being done on hotels, cultural and entertainment facilities and even sports-related facilities such as a golf course, the source added.<\/p>\n
Hotels built by South Korea are reportedly still standing, but could be demolished “at any time” if full-fledged construction efforts in the zone begin, according to the source.<\/p>\n
“The stance of the [North Korean communist] party is that buildings constructed by the South will be demolished only after receiving permission from the South [Koreans],” the source told Daily NK, who further speculated that, “The buildings built by South [Korea] are considered ‘lacking in national character’ so this means they could be demolished at any time.”<\/p>\n
The source further told Daily NK that while most of the country’s construction efforts are currently focused on the Pyongyang General Hospital, projects in Samjiyon and the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, more construction workers could be sent to Mt. Kumgang once the leadership decides to expand construction efforts.<\/p>\n
“Only a small number of soldiers are working on the Mt. Kumgang projects because there are so many other major national construction projects going on,” he said.<\/p>\n
Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.<\/i><\/p>\n