Kim Jong-un visiting Samjiyeon during snowfall. His visit was an inconvenience for the residents. From the Rodong Sinmun, dated October 30.
Since late October, the power supply to residents in the northern regions has been cut off. This is said to be due to the electricity being diverted to the Samjiyeon tourist zone construction, a project in which Kim Jong-un has taken great interest. Complaints are increasing due to residents being mobilized for long periods of time in the Samjiyeon construction project and continuous power outages. (Kang Ji-won / ISHIMARU Jiro)
"I thought that I would finally be able to live a decent life, but I was disappointed,"
said a reporting partner in early November who resides in Hyesan City, located in the northern part of North Korea where the power supply was cut off. The reporting partner said that not even a second’s worth of electricity is being provided at the moment.
The sudden and complete blackouts began at the same time Kim Jong-un visited Samjiyeon County in Yanggang Province at the end of October. According to the reporting partner, the authorities explained the reason for the power outages as follows.
"Kim Jong-un gave orders to concentrate all efforts on the construction work at Samjiyeon, so the electricity originally intended for residents in the northern provinces of Yanggang, Chagang and North Hamgyong was directed to Samjiyeon as a top priority. There has been no electricity in November.”
"Kim Jong-un gave orders to concentrate all efforts on the construction work at Samjiyeon, so the electricity originally intended for residents in the northern provinces of Yanggang, Chagang and North Hamgyong was directed to Samjiyeon as a top priority. There has been no electricity in November.”
◆Residents mobilized for construction and forced to give up supplies and electricity
Samjiyeon County is located at the foot of Mt. Baekdu, a famous mountain visited by President Moon Jae-in in September. In November 2016, a large number of residents were mobilized to rush the construction in the special tourism zone following Kim Jong-un’s orders.
In North Korea, the power supply to residential areas nationwide, except for Pyongyang, has worsened since the end of 2017. The number of 'power saving' districts where electricity is not available had increased, but the power supply situation suddenly improved at the end of June this year. There are rumors that China began supplying power to North Korea after Kim Jong-un’s three visits to China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Until recently, electricity was provided for about 10 hours a day across the country and the residents were greatly pleased thinking that they would be able to "live like human beings." However, the power supply was abruptly cut off. In Yanggang Province, the supply of industrial electricity decreased from18-24 hours to about 10 hours a day.
Electric heaters used to dry cement...
Electric heaters used to dry cement...
Map of the Samjiyeon area
◆Electric heaters used to dry cement
Another reporting partner in Yanggang Province describes the use of electricity as follows.
"Electric heating coils are being used to dry the cement inside the constructed buildings in Samjiyeon. This is because winter will soon arrive and the cement will freeze if it is not dried quickly.”
"Electric heating coils are being used to dry the cement inside the constructed buildings in Samjiyeon. This is because winter will soon arrive and the cement will freeze if it is not dried quickly.”
The crackdowns on the illegal use of electricity have also become harsher.
"The residents of Hyesan City, who had been receiving electricity in exchange for bribes to government officials responsible for the distribution of electricity, were caught and sent to disciplinary labor centers for three months. The officials at the electricity distribution office were also punished.”
"The residents of Hyesan City, who had been receiving electricity in exchange for bribes to government officials responsible for the distribution of electricity, were caught and sent to disciplinary labor centers for three months. The officials at the electricity distribution office were also punished.”
Residents mobilized for the Samjiyeon construction project have continued to provide funds, materials, and their labor for over a year.
"Some people complain and ask if only Samjiyeon residents are considered human beings. Discontent is on the rise," said the reporting partner.
"Some people complain and ask if only Samjiyeon residents are considered human beings. Discontent is on the rise," said the reporting partner.
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