Chinese Troops Stationed in N.Korean Special Zone

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http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/17/2011011700465.html

Chinese Troops Stationed in N.Korean Special Zone

Chinese troops have been stationed in the special economic zone of Rajin-Sonbong

in North Korea, sources said Friday.

This would be the first time since Chinese troops withdrew from the Military

Armistice Commission in the truce village of Panmunjom in December 1994 that

they have been stationed in the North.

" Pyongyang and Beijing have reportedly discussed the matter of stationing a

small number of Chinese troops in the Rajin-Sonbong region to guard port

facilities China has invested in, " a Cheong Wa Dae official said. " If it's true,

they're apparently there to protect either facilities or Chinese residents

rather than for political or military reasons. "

How many of them are there is not known. The move is unusual since North Korea

is constantly calling for U.S. forces to pull out of South Korea and stressing

its " juche " or self-reliance doctrine.

A China-based source familiar with North Korean affairs said, " In the middle of

the night around Dec. 15 last year, about 50 Chinese armored vehicles and tanks

crossed the Duman (Tumen) River from Sanhe into the North Korean city of

Hoeryong in North Hamgyong Province. "

Residents were woken up by the roar of armored vehicles. Hoeryong is only about

50 km from Rajin-Sonbong. Other witnesses said they saw military jeeps running

from the Chinese city of Dandong in the direction of Sinuiju in the North at

around the same time.

" The Chinese armored vehicles could be used to suppress public disturbances and

the jeeps to round up on defectors from the North, " the source speculated.

Nam Joo-hong, the ambassador for international security, said, " What China is

most worried about in case of a sudden change in the North is mass influx of

defectors, which would throw the three northeastern Chinese provinces into

confusion. With its military presence in Rajin-Sonbong, there is a likelihood

that China could intervene in Korean affairs by sending a large number of troops

into the North under the pretext of protecting its residents there in an

emergency. "

The North and China have engaged in lively military exchanges since two visits

to China by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il last year. Guo Boxiong, the top

Chinese military officer and vice chairman of the Chinese Central Military

Commission, visited the North in late October last year and met with leader Kim

Jong-il and his son and heir Jong-un. In the meeting, Kim senior emphasized

" blood ties " between the two countries.

A Chinese mission has been stationed in Rajin-Sonbong since last December. China

is transporting natural resources from its northeastern region to the south via

Rajin-Sonbong Port, which has recently been renovated.

According to China's official Xinhua news agency on Jan. 3, China first used the

port on Dec. 7, when it transported 20,000 tons of coal from a mine in Hunchun,

Jilin Province to southern parts including Shanghai. There is speculation that

China will supply its own electricity to Rajin-Sonbong from April.

Quoting an internal North Korean source, the online newspaper Daily NK said the

North and China in December signed an investment pact on building three more

piers at the port and building a highway and laying a railroad between Quanhe in

Jilin and Rajin-Sonbong.

The number of Chinese people arriving in the special zone has grown as a result

of the North's quest for investment, observers said.

" The North Korean State Security has more or less stopped checking Chinese

people, " another source said. " The North has apparently concluded that it is

unavoidable to accept the Chinese military presence on its land to woo Chinese

investment, even if it's not happy about it. "

englishnews@... / Jan. 17, 2011 09:04 KST