Sinŭiju (Sinŭiju-si) is a city in North Korea, on the border with China and is the capital of North P'yŏngan Province. The city is near Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region, which was established in 2002 to experiment with introducing a market economy.
Geography
The border with China is marked by the Yalu River. The city is connected to Dandong in China via the Sino-Korea Friendship Bridge (or China-Korea Friendship Bridge). This is one of the only ways to enter North Korea. The city is a Terminus on the Gyeongui railroad line (known as the P'yŏngui in the North) and is 25 miles (40km) from the mouth of the Yalu River.
History
Developed as a major settlement during the Japanese occupation (1910-45) at the terminus of a railway bridge across the Yalu (Amnok) river. It is located 7 miles west of Uiju, the old city from whos name Sinuiju (meaning New Uiju) derives. As an open port it grew commercially with the logging industry which uses the Yalu River to tranport 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 the city sustained heavy damage from aerial bombardment but the city has been rebuilt.
Transportation
Sinuiju can be reached from P'yong-yang by air (having a 1.2 km runway), electric railway and road. It is also connected with the Chinese city of Dandong (renamed from Andong/Antung) in Liaoning Province (People's Republic of China) by the Amnok River Bridge which is 944 m long (3,097 feet) from end to end, and through the Manchuria Railway links up with the Trans-Siberian railway.
Places
Facilities in Sinuiju include Sinuiju High School, Sinuiju Commercial High School, Eastern Middle School, Sinuiju Light Industry University and the Sinuiju University of Education. Scenic sites include the Tonggun Pavilion, Waterfall, and Hot Springs.
Industry
An important light industry center in North Korea it has a plant manufacturing enameled ironware as well as a textile mill, paper mill and an afforestation factory. Much of North Koreas trade with China takes place through Sinuiju. Its southwest harbour has a shipyard.
See also
Last updated: 05-23-2005 19:08:09
