Beijing and Pyongyang "launch" common economic zone

Seoul (AsiaNews) - China and North Korea have agreed to open at least two special economic zones of shared development, where Beijing and Pyongyang plan to install next-generation factories to improve the quality of the North Korean economy. But the risk, several sources tell AsiaNews, is that these two areas will become "a sort of free port, where China can send its most unwelcome dissidents and North Korea can hide the weapons it does not want the international community to see".

The agreement was signed during Kim’s third trip to China in just over a year, a journey marked by issues such as North Korea's devastated economy, subject to heavy sanctions from the UN, and Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament, the delay of which inspires the rest of the world with fear. Rumours indicate the two dictators have chosen the island of Hwanggumpyong - in the southern part of the Duman River - as the first areas and the province of Rajin-Sonbong

During bilateral talks, Kim said North Korea "needs a stable region to proceed with development and wants to return to the bargaining table on nuclear disarmament. That's why it’s asking for China’s help, which intends to develop special economic zones for cooperation. "

The summit did not mark a turning point in the stalemate with regard to disarmament, but Kim made it clear he does "not want to feed fresh conflict" after last year. South Korea has accused Pyongyang of having sunk a warship and the North bombed an island under the control of Seoul, triggering a confrontation and closing the border on the 43rd parallel.

The most interesting factor, however, is surely the special economic areas. According to the government news agency Xinhua, Kim told Hu that "North Korea is concentrating now on his energy and economic development, and needs a stable environment around them. We hope there is an easing of tension on the Korean peninsula, and that we can achieve the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula, and for this we invoke the resumption of six-party talks. We have always been honest with regard to improving relations between North and South. "

Under the plan, foreign investors will be permitted inside the two areas and can employ (or dismiss) the North Korean workers each according to their own canons. But a source tells AsiaNews: "Fine words and nothing else. In practice, those areas no-one will be made any concessions: it is a smoke screen for the North, which wants to convince the world of wanting to open up the market. In my opinion, however, it will be dissidents that Beijing wants to get rid of that will be sent to work in those areas".

Neither is it inconceivable, he says, that the areas "could become a storehouse for all those weapons which the UN has banned North Korea from possessing. By giving half territorial sovereignty to China, Pyongyang gets protection from the South’s air raids and random checks: they are well aware that such move could trigger a new world war. "