Residents Being Replaced to Make Shinuiju Special Economic Zone

North Korea is learned to have been preparing to turn Shinuiju, the northwestern city bordering China, into a special economic zone and is replacing residents of the city and its adjacent counties. Under an un-publicized program, adopted in mid-1997, calling for the opening of Shinuiju in the medium- to long-term future, the North has been evacuating ideologically risky residents from the city the nearby Uiju, Ryongchon, Pihyon, Yomju and Sonchon Counties, according to Seoul government officials.

The program is believed to have been adopted following the judgment that the Rajin-Sonbong free economic zone, set up in 1991, has failed to achieve its end of inducing foreign capital. Shinuiju has reportedly been selected as a second special economic zone candidate on the grounds that the city and its vicinity constitutes a light industry zone, producing most of the North's primary consumer goods. In addition Shinuiju, facing Dandong, China, across the Yalu River, is a border city active in trade. As a result, many External Economy Committee officials are said to have been reassigned from Rajin-Sonbong to Shinuiju.

Subject to replacement first in Shinuiju and its vicinity, according to officials, were ranking local officials of the Workers' Party, State Security Agency, Ministry of Public Security, prosecution and judiciary. Underpinning the move was the reasoning that ranking officials should be ideologically armed to be not influenced by capitalism when the area is opened up. Leading officials being assigned to the area are said to be mainly discharged generals and field-grade officers who belonged to the Security Command of the People's Armed Forces. Veterans with long military careers are said to be mainly replacing ideologically risky residents.

(Lee Kyo Kwan, haedang@chosun.com)