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| North Korea unveils town hailed as 'epitome of civilisation' | North Korea unveils town hailed as 'epitome of civilisation' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| North Korea has officially opened a new town its media is calling the "epitome of modern civilisation". | North Korea has officially opened a new town its media is calling the "epitome of modern civilisation". |
| Leader Kim Jong-un cut the red ribbon at Samjiyon near Mount Paektu in the north - hailed as one of the country's most important construction projects. | |
| State media KCNA said the town - which is able to accommodate 4,000 families - boasts new apartments, a ski slope, and a stadium amongst other facilities. | State media KCNA said the town - which is able to accommodate 4,000 families - boasts new apartments, a ski slope, and a stadium amongst other facilities. |
| However, forced labour is said to have gone into the construction of Samjiyon. | However, forced labour is said to have gone into the construction of Samjiyon. |
| And the town - even if it lives up to state media billing - will be an outlier in North Korea, where the majority of people live in poor conditions. | And the town - even if it lives up to state media billing - will be an outlier in North Korea, where the majority of people live in poor conditions. |
| According to non-governmental organisation the National Committee on North Korea, many "suffer from shortages of food, fuel, electricity, running water and other necessities". | According to non-governmental organisation the National Committee on North Korea, many "suffer from shortages of food, fuel, electricity, running water and other necessities". |
| What does the town look like? | What does the town look like? |
| According to Colin Zwirko, a correspondent at specialist site NK News, the town is a "model" of sorts. | According to Colin Zwirko, a correspondent at specialist site NK News, the town is a "model" of sorts. |
| "As it appears now, it [has] nice clean facades and unique, ornately designed buildings that would not resemble really any other town in North Korea," he told the BBC. | "As it appears now, it [has] nice clean facades and unique, ornately designed buildings that would not resemble really any other town in North Korea," he told the BBC. |
| "Someone roaming around Samjiyon as a tourist would not stumble into less well-kept areas away from the main road, as is the case in Pyongyang and other cities." | "Someone roaming around Samjiyon as a tourist would not stumble into less well-kept areas away from the main road, as is the case in Pyongyang and other cities." |
| Mr Zwirko added that the town is "quite small and walkable", measuring around 2-3km in either direction. | Mr Zwirko added that the town is "quite small and walkable", measuring around 2-3km in either direction. |
| When did construction begin? | When did construction begin? |
| Mr Kim visited Samjiyon town exactly two years ago, where he first announced a big "rebuilding" project. | Mr Kim visited Samjiyon town exactly two years ago, where he first announced a big "rebuilding" project. |
| But it has not exactly been built from the ground up. | But it has not exactly been built from the ground up. |
| A town already existed before the reconstruction. Some buildings were remodelled, while many more were torn down and replaced with new buildings, according to Mr Zwirko. | A town already existed before the reconstruction. Some buildings were remodelled, while many more were torn down and replaced with new buildings, according to Mr Zwirko. |
| State media previously reported that more than 450 new buildings would be constructed, including industrial and recreational facilities. | State media previously reported that more than 450 new buildings would be constructed, including industrial and recreational facilities. |
| KCNA said the town had undergone a "drastic change", describing it as a "utopia town under socialism". | KCNA said the town had undergone a "drastic change", describing it as a "utopia town under socialism". |
| It is not clear if anyone has moved in, but the town was previously home to some residents - though it is also unclear how many. | It is not clear if anyone has moved in, but the town was previously home to some residents - though it is also unclear how many. |
| What has gone into building it? | What has gone into building it? |
| It's not known how much money has gone into construction of the town. | It's not known how much money has gone into construction of the town. |
| But construction happened at a time when North Korea is under tough sanctions, and its completion shows how much importance the government placed on the project. | But construction happened at a time when North Korea is under tough sanctions, and its completion shows how much importance the government placed on the project. |
| Mr Zwirko said the state "pushed construction regardless of resources, and regardless of lack of access to better building materials due to sanctions". | Mr Zwirko said the state "pushed construction regardless of resources, and regardless of lack of access to better building materials due to sanctions". |
| There is also evidence, said Mr Zwirko, that forced labour was used to complete the projects. | There is also evidence, said Mr Zwirko, that forced labour was used to complete the projects. |
| "We have seen evidence of forced labour in terms of local civilians working on the project," he said. "State media even boasts of such work, though [they call] them volunteers." | "We have seen evidence of forced labour in terms of local civilians working on the project," he said. "State media even boasts of such work, though [they call] them volunteers." |
| It is not uncommon for local civilians to be "forced" to work on such projects, and locals are often "required to contribute to construction projects by working and/or providing resources". | It is not uncommon for local civilians to be "forced" to work on such projects, and locals are often "required to contribute to construction projects by working and/or providing resources". |
| "Typically people either comply or some reports tell of [them] bribing their way out," said Mr Zwirko. | "Typically people either comply or some reports tell of [them] bribing their way out," said Mr Zwirko. |
| Why is the project important? | Why is the project important? |
| Firstly, for its proximity to Mount Paektu - considered to be a sacred mountain in North Korea and said to be the birthplace of Kim Jong-un's father. | Firstly, for its proximity to Mount Paektu - considered to be a sacred mountain in North Korea and said to be the birthplace of Kim Jong-un's father. |
| "It's the town's significance as the [reported] birthplace of Kim Jong Il that makes it the big important state construction project that it is," said Mr Zwirko. | "It's the town's significance as the [reported] birthplace of Kim Jong Il that makes it the big important state construction project that it is," said Mr Zwirko. |
| The town has also been presented as a model for other towns in the country to look up to. | The town has also been presented as a model for other towns in the country to look up to. |
| In his annual new year's address this year, Mr Kim directly referenced Samjiyon, calling it an "ideal socialist village". | In his annual new year's address this year, Mr Kim directly referenced Samjiyon, calling it an "ideal socialist village". |
| "The whole party, the entire army, and all the people should turn out to transform Samjiyon into a model of modern mountainous city, an ideal socialist village," he said in his speech. | "The whole party, the entire army, and all the people should turn out to transform Samjiyon into a model of modern mountainous city, an ideal socialist village," he said in his speech. |
| The opening of the town is just one part of a bigger scheme. It's the second stage of a three-stage plan to boost the entire county the town is located in. | The opening of the town is just one part of a bigger scheme. It's the second stage of a three-stage plan to boost the entire county the town is located in. |
| The three-stage construction project is expected to be complete by October 2020. | The three-stage construction project is expected to be complete by October 2020. |
| So though the town itself has been officially opened, Mr Zwirko has described it as a "soft opening". | So though the town itself has been officially opened, Mr Zwirko has described it as a "soft opening". |
| "Satellite imagery shows a lot of planned facilities such as the hotel resort around the ski hill are not complete and we haven't seen if buses are ready to serve the town yet. | "Satellite imagery shows a lot of planned facilities such as the hotel resort around the ski hill are not complete and we haven't seen if buses are ready to serve the town yet. |
| "This to me looks like more of a soft opening designed to boost morale, and to perhaps allow some money to be recouped through small-scale tourism this winter before the big proper opening next October." | "This to me looks like more of a soft opening designed to boost morale, and to perhaps allow some money to be recouped through small-scale tourism this winter before the big proper opening next October." |