North Korean sightseeing boats were spotted from Dandong, China, cruising the waters of the Yalu River near Sinuiju recently.<\/p>\n
According to a Daily NK source in China, two North Korean sightseeing boats flying North Korean flags sailed for about 30 minutes from the area near the Yalu River Broken Bridge to Wihwa Island, departing around 10:30 a.m on April 16.<\/p>\n
“A single sightseeing boat from Sinuiju used to operate on North Korean national holidays, but it hadn’t been seen for quite some time,” the source said. “This appears to be the first time the boats have operated since the COVID-19 pandemic, so even Chinese residents in Dandong were surprised and watched them with interest.”<\/p>\n
“North Korea held major political events to commemorate Kim Il Sung’s birthday, and I understand today was designated as a day off,” the source explained. “It seems they organized this special activity (the boat trips) for the holiday.”<\/p>\n
What particularly drew attention was that passengers on the sightseeing boats took photos toward Dandong with their mobile phones and enthusiastically shouted and waved at Chinese people along the riverside\u2014an unusual spectacle.<\/p>\n
The atmosphere was remarkably different, representing a complete reversal from the subdued pleasure cruises of the past.<\/p>\n
“In the past, when tourists on Chinese sightseeing boats would cheerfully call out to North Koreans, they would respond with indifference, but the North Koreans on this recent cruise behaved quite differently,” the source noted. “Though we couldn’t understand each other’s words, they shouted and waved energetically toward us.”<\/p>\n
“Most passengers appeared to be young people, creating a relatively relaxed atmosphere for the cruise,” the source added. “It seems the authorities arranged this event for young loyal supporters who participated in housing reconstruction efforts in flood-damaged areas last year, without imposing too many restrictions on their behavior.”<\/p>\n
Another source in China confirmed the operation of North Korean sightseeing boats that day, stating he believed the cruises “were a temporary offering for the holiday.”<\/p>\n
When asked about the boats, a source in North Pyongan province said the authorities “announced they would operate the boats for Kim Il Sung’s birthday and began selling tickets about a week in advance. Nevertheless, they were difficult to obtain.” The source believed the passengers included “residents from Sinuiju and Uiju, people from Pyongyang visiting Sinuiju on business, and families enjoying a recreational outing on the water.”<\/p>\n