Uiju County is located upstream on the Yalu River from Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province. The area was flooded by heavy rains in late July 2024, and recovery work has been underway. One year later, what is the situation on the ground? The ASIAPRESS reporting team filmed the site from the Chinese side in September 2025. Stone embankment construction has continued since last year, and a massive levee resembling a fortress wall was under construction. We also captured soldiers eating lunch, wolfing down large portions of corn rice. (ASIAPRESS Editorial Team)
South Korean 'Doosan' Heavy Equipment Bears North Korean Slogans
Eojeokdo Island in Uiju County, filmed by the reporting team, is a river island in the Yalu River that was swept by floods. Construction of a massive embankment was progressing as if to encircle the island. Its scale and height made it look like a fortress wall.
Excavators from South Korean company 'Doosan' were being used in the construction. While the "DOOSAN" logo remained intact, slogans reading "Spirit of Mt. Paektu's Cold Wind" and "Ten Thousand Miles Following the Party Central Committee" were written on the boom section.
Mobilized soldiers were moving ceaselessly, carrying blocks on their backs, placing concrete blocks on the embankment slopes, and securing them. At lunchtime, we were able to observe the rare sight of soldiers eating. They squatted on the ground with large servings of corn rice, eating their side dishes together with soup.
The Ninth Party Congress is scheduled for early 2026 in North Korea. The Kim Jong-un regime intends to move past last year's major flood damage and promote the completion of recovery construction as a major achievement symbolizing regional development.
This must be placing enormous pressure on the young soldiers mobilized for the rushed construction project.
More details can be confirmed in the video footage.
※ This audio utilizes VoiceGate from video production company VIDWEB. (https://vidweb.co.jp/)
- Large-Scale Vehicle Smuggling Between North Korea and China: Structure and Background (Part 4) - Oversupply Leaves Cars Unsold; Vehicles Become Symbols of Wealth Gap, Targets of Vandalism
- ＜Interview with a North Korean Woman＞"It's Annoying and Unbearable" Surveillance and Control Intensified Through Inminban... Registration Required Even for Going Out and Returning Home
- ＜Analysis of N. Korean Photos＞N.K-China Border: Scene of Massive State Smuggling (2) State Smuggling Along Yalu River Captured in Satellite Images; Over 20 Operational Sites Identified
- ＜N. Korea Photo Report＞Mass Smuggling of Vehicles in Violation of Sanctions... Hundreds of Luxury Cars Including Toyota and Trucks Lined Up at Border - Chinese Authorities Possibly Turning a Blind Eye
- ＜Breaking News/ Super-telephoto＞The N.Korea-Russia Vehicle Bridge Construction Progressing Steadily (6 photos and maps)
