Sinuiju

Sinŭiju (Korean: 신의주시; MR: Sinŭiju-si; IPA: [ɕinɰidzu ɕi]), known before 1925 in English as Yeng Byen City,[2][3] is a city in North Korea which faces Dandong, Liaoning, China, across the international border of the Yalu River. It is the capital of North P'yŏngan province. Part of the city is included in the Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region, which was established in 2002 to experiment with introducing a market economy. In recent years, the city, despite lagging behind the development in the capital Pyongyang, has seen a small construction boom and increasing tourism from China.[4]

For the special administrative region, see Sinuiju Special Administrative Region.
Sinŭiju
신의주시
Municipal city
  transcription(s)
 • Chosŏn'gŭl신의주시
 • Hancha新義州市
 • Revised RomanizationSinuiju-si
 • McCune-ReischauerSinŭiju-si
Aerial view of Downtown Sinŭiju, from Dandong, China
Aerial view of Downtown Sinŭiju, from Dandong, China
Motto: 
The emblem Magnolia.
Sinŭiju location within North Korea
Sinŭiju location within North Korea
Sinŭiju is located in North Korea
Sinŭiju
Sinŭiju
Coordinates: 40°06′N 124°24′E
Country North Korea
ProvinceNorth P'yŏngan
Administrative divisions49 tong,
9 ri
Area
 • Total180 km2 (70 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total359,341[1]
 • Dialect
P'yŏngan
Time zoneUTC+9 (Pyongyang Time)

Geography
A park near the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge
A large square in the center of Sinŭiju in August 2012, with a statue of Kim Il Sung
Map of Sinŭiju and Dandong (An-tung)

Sinŭiju is bordered by the Amnok River, and by P'ihyŏn and Ryongch'ŏn counties. The city's altitude is 1 metre (4 feet) above sea level. There are several islands at the mouth of the Amnok River - Wihwa-do, Rim-do, Ryuch'o-do and Tongryuch'o-do.

Administrative divisions

Sinuiju city is the heart of the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region. The city is currently divided into 49 tong (neighbourhoods) and 9 ri (villages):

NameChosŏn'gŭlHanja
5-1-dong (O-il-dong)5-1동 (오일동)五一洞
Apkang-dong압강동鴨江洞
Chaeha-dong채하동彩霞洞
Chinseon 1-dong친선1동親善一洞
Chinseon 2-dong친선2동親善二洞
Cheongsong-dong청송동靑松洞
Haebang-dong해방동解放洞
Kaehyeok-dong개혁동改革洞
Koseong-dong고성동古城洞
Keunhwa-dong근화동芹花洞
Majeon-dong마전동麻田洞
Minpho-dong민포동敏浦洞
Namha-dong남하동南下洞
Namjung-dong남중동南中洞
Nammin-dong남민동南敏洞
Namsang-dong남상동南上洞
Namseo-dong남서동南西洞
Namsong-dong남송동南松洞
Baekun-dong백운동白雲洞
Baeksa-dong백사동白沙洞
Baekto-dong백토동白土洞
Bangjik-tong방직동紡織洞
Bonbu-dong본부동本部洞
Panmun-dong판문동板門洞
Pungseo 1-dong풍서1동豊西一洞
Pungseo 2-dong풍서2동豊西二洞
Pyeonghwa-dong평화동平和洞
Ragwon 1-dong락원1동樂園一洞
Ragwon 2-dong락원2동樂園二洞
Rakcheong 1-dong락청1동樂清一洞
Rakcheong 2-dong락청2동樂清二洞
Ryeonsang 1-dong련상1동蓮上一洞
Ryeonsang 2-dong련상2동蓮上二洞
Ryusang 1-dong류상1동柳上一洞
Ryusang 2-dong류상2동柳上二洞
Sinnam-dong신남동新南洞
Sinpo-dong신포동新浦洞
Sinwon-dong신원동新元洞
Seokha 1-dong석하1동石下一洞
Seokha 2-dong석하2동石下二洞
Songhan-dong송한동送鷴洞
Seonsang-dong선상동仙上洞
Sumun-dong수문동水門洞
Dongha-dong동하동東下洞
Dongjung-dong동중동東中洞
Dongsang-dong동상동東上洞
Wai-dong와이동瓦耳洞
Yeokcheon-dong역전동驛前洞
Yeonha-dong연하동煙下洞
Jungjae-ri중재리中斉里
Hadan-ri하단리下端里
Ryucho-ri류초리柳草里
Samgyo-ri삼교리三橋里
Samryong-ri삼룡리三龍里
Sangdan-ri　상단리上端里
Seongseo-ri성서리城西里
Daji-ri　다지리多智里
Toseong-ri토성리土城里

History

Developed as a major settlement during the colonial rule at the terminus of a railway bridge across the Amrok River, Sinuiju is located 11 km (7 miles) south by southwest of Ŭiju, the old city from whose name Sinŭiju (meaning “New Ŭiju”) derives. As an open port, it grew commercially with the logging industry which uses the Amnok River to transport lumber. Additionally, a chemical industry developed after the hydroelectric Sup'ung Dam was built further up the river.

In the course of the Korean War, after being driven from P'yŏngyang, Kim Il Sung and his government temporarily moved its capital to Sinŭiju[5][6] - although as UNC forces approached, the government again moved - this time to Kanggye.[6] Also, the city sustained heavy damage from aerial bombardment as part of the United States Air Force's strategic bombing of North Korea; 95 percent of the city was destroyed.[7] However, the city has since been rebuilt.

In 2018, a master plan for the redevelopment of the city was unveiled and shown to Kim Jong Un, which would have featured many high rise buildings and parks, centered around the road leading to the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Ultimately, this plan has yet to be fulfilled, with the only major work completed being the repaving of roads leading to the statues and the red coloured, circular apartment building behind and the Sinuiju Youth Open Air Theatre's completion, although the industrial areas in the city have seen some reconstruction.[8]

Economy
Waterfront on the Amnok River

An important light industry centre in North Korea, Sinŭiju has a plant manufacturing enamelled ironware as well as a textile mill, paper mill and an afforestation factory. Its southwest harbour has a shipyard, although the shipyard's main function is seemingly to dismantle ships for scrap metal and other usable materials rather than building new ships. The area has recycling plants which recycle a wide range of material, including products that are banned for recycling in China.[9][10][11] The Sinŭiju Cosmetics Factory is located in South Sinŭiju (Namsinŭiju).

Trade with China

A substantial portion of North Korea's international trade, both legal and illegal, passes through Sinuiju and Dandong, across the Yalu River.[12]

Central market

Since 2002, commercial life has been centred on the Chaeha-dong Market.[13] Based on a satellite image taken on 30 October 2012, the market has been destroyed and is being made into a new park.[13]

Transportation
Sinŭiju Ch'ŏngnyŏn Railway Station

Sinŭiju can be reached from P'yŏngyang by air, railway and road. It can be reached from Dandong in China by crossing the Amnok River by bridge or boat. Foreign tourists on excursion boats from Dandong are sometimes permitted to approach within a few meters of the city's coastline, as long as they do not land.[14]

Air

Sinŭiju's airport has a single turf runway 03/21 measuring 991 metres by 61 metres (3250 feet by 213 feet).[15] Air Koryŏ operates passenger and cargo flights from P'yŏngyang.

Rail

Sinŭiju Ch'ŏngnyŏn Station is the northern terminus of the Korean State Railway's P'yŏngŭi Line from P'yŏngyang; the district is also served by several other stations on the P'yŏngŭi line, as well as the Tŏkhyŏn and Paengma lines. It is also connected with the Chinese city of Dandong in Liaoning Province (China) by the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, which is 944 m (3,097 ft) long from end to end, and through the Manchuria Railway links up with the Trans-Siberian railway. The factories of the city of Sinŭiju are provided with railway service via the Kang'an Line.

Urban transit

Sinuiju has a trolleybus line that runs from the city centre to the railway station. It was reopened in October 2020 with new trolleybuses derived from the Pyongyang Chollima-321 trolleybus. It formerly had another line running from the Sinuiju Chongnyon Station to Ragwon Machine Complex that closed between 2005 and 2009 with the reconstruction of the highway with a shifted alignment.[16]

Climate

Sinŭiju has a monsoonal humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa) with hot, humid and stormy summers and cold, dry winters with little snowfall.

Climate data for Sinuiju (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)		 15.5
(59.9)		 22.0
(71.6)		 28.4
(83.1)		 32.0
(89.6)		 37.0
(98.6)		 36.9
(98.4)		 38.5
(101.3)		 33.0
(91.4)		 28.9
(84.0)		 21.5
(70.7)		 13.9
(57.0)		 38.5
(101.3)
Average high °C (°F) −0.8
(30.6)		 2.9
(37.2)		 8.8
(47.8)		 16.1
(61.0)		 22.0
(71.6)		 25.9
(78.6)		 28.3
(82.9)		 29.2
(84.6)		 25.6
(78.1)		 18.3
(64.9)		 8.7
(47.7)		 0.5
(32.9)		 15.5
(59.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.2
(20.8)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 3.2
(37.8)		 10.1
(50.2)		 16.2
(61.2)		 20.9
(69.6)		 24.1
(75.4)		 24.5
(76.1)		 19.7
(67.5)		 12.2
(54.0)		 3.6
(38.5)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 10.1
(50.2)
Average low °C (°F) −10.3
(13.5)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 5.4
(41.7)		 11.5
(52.7)		 17.0
(62.6)		 21.2
(70.2)		 21.1
(70.0)		 15.1
(59.2)		 7.5
(45.5)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −8.0
(17.6)		 6.0
(42.8)
Record low °C (°F) −27.3
(−17.1)		 −26.0
(−14.8)		 −18.9
(−2.0)		 −5.0
(23.0)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 3.0
(37.4)		 10.7
(51.3)		 10.0
(50.0)		 2.8
(37.0)		 −5.3
(22.5)		 −15.0
(5.0)		 −22.8
(−9.0)		 −27.3
(−17.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 5.9
(0.23)		 14.9
(0.59)		 20.3
(0.80)		 53.7
(2.11)		 85.0
(3.35)		 122.6
(4.83)		 251.9
(9.92)		 241.3
(9.50)		 95.7
(3.77)		 78.8
(3.10)		 37.2
(1.46)		 13.6
(0.54)		 1,020.9
(40.19)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 2.1 3.2 3.8 6.4 7.7 9.8 12.6 10.4 5.7 5.6 5.2 4.0 76.5
Average snowy days 3.5 3.1 2.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.9 4.4 15.5
Average relative humidity (%) 60.2 59.9 61.8 63.7 70.0 78.0 84.2 81.7 73.7 68.0 65.6 62.5 69.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 199 195 227 228 237 207 163 200 220 208 169 172 2,425
Source 1: Korea Meteorological Administration[17]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (sun, 1961–1990),[18][19][lower-alpha 1] Meteo Climat (extremes),[20] Extreme Temperature Around The World [21]

Places of interest
Ferris wheel in Sinuiju

Facilities in Sinŭiju include Sinŭiju High School, Sinŭiju Commercial High School, Eastern Middle School, Sinŭiju Light Industry University, Sinŭiju University of Medicine and the Sinuiju University of Education. Scenic sites include the Tonggun Pavilion, Waterfall, and Hot Springs.

There also is a Ferris wheel overlooking the Yalu River, reportedly broken.[22]

Notable people

See also

Notes
  1. Station ID for Sinuiju is 47035 Use this station ID to locate the sunshine duration

References
  1. 북한통계>인구일제조사>2008년>인구>도, 시/구역/군, 도시/농촌별, 성별인구 통계청 북한통계, 2018년 10월 7일 확인.
  2. "Yeng-byen, North Pyongan Province, North Korea". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  3. Minutes of the Korea Annual Conference. Seoul, South Korea: The Fukuin Printing Company. 1914. p. 27.
  4. "Sights of Sinuiju: Change and continuity in North Korea's window to China | NK News".
  5. Sandler, Stanley (1999). The Korean War: No Victors, No Vanquished. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 108.
  6. Mossman, Billy (June 29, 2005). United States Army in the Korean War: Ebb and Flow November 1950-July 1951. University Press of the Pacific. p. 51.
  7. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Firebombing North Korea - The US and the Korean War". YouTube.
  8. "Sinuiju City: Big Plans, Little Progress | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  9. Rank, Michael (March 15, 2013). "North Korean-Taiwan nuclear waste deal thwarted over export permit". NK Economic Watch. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  10. Rank, Michael (30 June 2008). "North Korea in bid to recycle toxic waste". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 January 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  11. "Dalian-based Huatai Recycling Resources Co Ltd" (in Chinese). Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  12. Jane Perlez and Yufan Huang (March 31, 2016). "A Hole in North Korean Sanctions Big Enough for Coal, Oil and Used Pianos". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2016. China accounts for about 90 percent of North Korea's trade. Half of that business is estimated to flow through Dandong...
  13. "Market expansion: Sinuiju". North Korea Economic Watch. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  14. Cruddas, Sarah (2014-02-18). "Peering into North Korea : North Korea". BBC - Travel. Archived from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  15. Landings database page Archived 2012-03-24 at the Wayback Machine "Landings.Com", accessed 06 Aug 2010,
  16. "Sinuiju". transphoto.org. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  17. "30 years report of Meteorological Observations in North Korea (1991 ~ 2020)" (PDF) (in Korean). Korea Meteorological Administration. pp. 209, 291, and 344. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  18. "Klimatafel von Sinuiju / Korea (Nordkorea)" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  19. "Station 47035 Sinuiju". Global station data 1961–1990—Sunshine Duration. Deutscher Wetterdienst. Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  20. "Station Sinuiju" (in French). Meteo Climat. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  21. "January record low and August record high". Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  22. Kane, Daniel (October 22, 2010). "Observations from Dandong". NK News. Retrieved December 18, 2016. Further in shore I spotted Sinuiju's signature monument, the Ferris wheel that doesn't move.

Further reading
  • Cathcart, Adam; Kraus, Charles (2008). "Peripheral Influence: The Sinŭiju Student Incident of 1945 and the Impact of Soviet Occupation in North Korea". Journal of Korean Studies. 13 (1): 1–28. doi:10.1353/jks.2008.0002. S2CID 144775147.
  • Dormels, Rainer (2014). North Korea's Cities: Industrial facilities, internal structures and typification. Jimoondang. ISBN 978-89-6297-167-5.
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