Two trains narrowly avoided collision at a junction between the Kaechon railway bureau’s Kujang and Buksinhyon stations, leading officials to convene an emergency closed-door meeting.<\/p>\n
According to a source in North Korea recently, the incident occurred on April 18, shortly after the national holiday celebrating late leader Kim Il Sung’s birthday on April 15. A locomotive entered the junction ahead of schedule, nearly striking another train.<\/p>\n
A quick-thinking electrical operator on duty at the checkpoint recognized the danger, activated an emergency signal, and switched the railroad track, preventing a collision. The locomotive was supposed to connect with a train heading to Jagang province but entered on an entirely different track due to miscommunication with the station.<\/p>\n
Post-incident investigations confirmed three times that the landlines connecting the command center, signal security room, and marshalling yard work group were functioning properly. Inspectors also verified that wireless connections were operational. The investigation ultimately attributed the near-miss to errors during the shift handover process.<\/p>\n
The meeting also addressed recurring issues with the three-line transmission cables for the integrated switchboard and signal equipment. An inspection conducted before the Kim Il Sung birthday holiday had classified these problems as “minor,” effectively concealing potential safety risks.<\/p>\n
In response to the incident, the Kaechon railway bureau temporarily removed the marshalling yard head, locomotive conductor, and command center head from their positions. The bureau also submitted a report to the Ministry of Railways detailing how technical mistakes could lead to track confusion.<\/p>\n
“The bureau will likely receive just a mild reprimand from the ministry since a collision was avoided,” the source said. “The authorities have again emphasized the importance of regular equipment inspections.”<\/p>\n
According to the source, bureau officials acknowledged they “would have all been dismissed” had the incident occurred during the April 15-16 holiday period. They admitted being “scared to death” and recognized that similar incidents “could happen at any time.”<\/p>\n
Technical officials highlighted a critical systemic issue: transportation commands should come from a single authority, but no such unified command system exists in practice. They urged immediate action, noting that while this incident was “dismissed as a sloppy duty handover,” the authorities must implement preventive measures.<\/p>\n
“Nobody at Kaechon’s railway bureau wants to lose their job by allowing a major accident during the 80th anniversary of the ruling party’s founding, so they’ve called on everyone to perform their duties diligently,” the source added. “Regarding this incident, officials are remaining vigilant, urging everyone to use this mishap as an opportunity to identify potential problems rather than covering it up.”<\/p>\n