[USFK Forums] North Begin Development Talks [Dong-A]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Monday, March 20, 2006

North Begin Development Talks

THE DONG-A ILBO, MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2006 03:34

North Korea and China is generating international interest with a meeting between both countries early April on the subject of a transportation link between Sinuiju and Dandong City in Liaoning Province.

The two countries are scheduled to discuss general issues such as come-and-go between Dandong and Sinuiju and joint measures to develop Sinuiju.

Rumors of a development agreement have surfaced continuously ever since China’s President Hu Jintao visited the North last October and National Defense Committee Chairman Kim Jong Il visited southern China in January.

The details of the Sinuiju development meeting have not been reported. Chinese sources in Dandong have reported that the two countries are discussing ways to open Sinuiju to overseas investors and the feasibility of a visa waiver or single-day visa approval plans starting July 1.

This means that visitors who will enter and exit Sinuiju on the same day won’t need a visa. Given that Dandong and Sinuiju are border cities linked by bridge, it means that Sinuiju is open to visitors without visa. One source in Dandong said, “Sinuiju and Dandong handle 80 percent of cross-border trade.”

Experts believe that Pyongyang is following advice from Beijing and starting to introduce China-style reforms. They also say that China may be paving the way for investment in North Korea by developing Sinuiju.

The North showed its willingness to develop a “Sinuiju Special Administrative Region“ (SSAR) without talking over the matter fully with China in 2002. But the North gave up the plan because of opposition from China. But now, Pyongyang is fully cooperating with Beijing.

China also is encouraging Dandong development by extending a national highway between Dandong and Donggang, by the construction of a second Yalu River rail link between Dandong and Sinuiju, by speeding up the development of border districts, and by constructing rail links between Dandong and China’s northeast three provinces.



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