Measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, including the shutdown of the Sino-North Korean border, are causing the suspension of various construction projects in Yanggang Province, Daily NK has learned.
“The greater focus on disease prevention has caused the ‘people’s economy’ to fall into an even worse state than during the economic blockade [sanctions on North Korea],” a Yanggang Province-based source, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Daily NK over the phone on Sunday. “This is evidenced by a series of local construction projects grinding to a halt.”
“Work has stopped on gas stations that were under construction in Masan and Songhu districts in Hyesan, as well as on the Hyesan Kimchi Factory being built in [the city’s] Songdong-2 District,” the source said, adding, “A number of small construction projects being carried out by other companies have also been temporarily suspended.”
According to the source, the primary reason behind the suspensions is the impact of stronger disease prevention measures against COVID-19. Notably, trading companies in charge of supplying construction materials from abroad have been unable to secure new supplies following the closure of the Sino-North Korean border.
Although some construction materials have still been smuggled into the country by state-run agencies, most of these materials are being funneled into major state construction projects such as Pyongyang General Hospital, the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, and the modernization of Samjiyon, the source said.
The lack of construction materials appears to have to the shutdown of projects even the country’s Central Committee highlighted as necessary for improving the people’s living standards, such as the kimchi factory in Hyesan.
The authorities have reportedly shown little interest in remedying the situation. It appears that people are again being left to fend for themselves.
“No one knows when construction will resume on projects managed by the province and devoid of any assistance from the central government,” the source said. “The government makes a lot of noise about using North Korea’s own technology, materials and strength in construction projects, but this is completely out of touch with reality.”
The construction of public facilities near some apartments in Hyesan’s Wiyon District that began earlier this year has also reportedly been suspended. This stands in stark contrast to the Samjiyon project, where members of the 216th Dolgyokdae (labor brigade) and even local residents have been brought in to work.
Another project currently on hold in Yanggang Province is the construction of homes in Sinpa Village. This area, referred to as a “congested area,” contains a chaotic disarray of around 100 houses. While construction work to revamp the area began a year ago, the project has been impacted by the country’s wider economic troubles, according to the source.
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