CHINA: Life as usual in the Chinese-North Korean border town of Dandong in the wake of North Korean nuclear test

In the Chinese-North Korean border town of Dandong, life seemed to go on as usual on Tuesday (October 10), a day after North Korea conducted a nuclear test. Locals and tourists woke up to news that their neighbour conducted an underground nuclear test which sparked worldwide condemnation. In the early morning hours, local ferries were still operating their tour of the Yalu river which goes close enough for tourists to see the life and activity in the North Korean border town of Sinuiju on the other side. Traffic along the border bridge was sparse as few vans made their way from Sinuiju across to the Chinese side in the morning. North Korean fishing boats drifted close to their side of the river border as a few residents came out to do their daily chores on the river banks. Dandong is mainly a tourist town catering to groups of Chinese tour groups who regularly cross the border to take a peek into their isolated neighbour. World powers condemned North Korea on Monday (October 11) after the announcement of the test and Washington sought harsh U.N. sanctions that could further impoverish and isolate the communist state. China, Pyongyang's strongest political and economic backer, denounced the test by its neighbor as "brazen," and urged it to avoid action that could worsen the situation. U.S. President George W. Bush called it a "provocative act" that threatened international peace and security and required an immediate response from the U.N. Security Council. But in Dandong, locals and tourists seemed unfazed by the test conducted so close to their homes. "No, we didn't feel anything here. But I am, of course, following the developments of this nuclear test. But I am not worried. Yesterday, my family called me to ask me how I was in Dandong and whether I felt any earthquake following the nuclear test. But I felt nothing and I can see that it was peaceful here for Dandong residents," said 34-year-old businessman Mr. Niu. Yao Huizhang, a 70-year-old tourist from Taiwan said: "This affects the world, but the world also affects North Korea. North Korean tested this nuclear bomb because they needed it. A lot of countries who do not have nuclear bombs, they would not go and build one. Other countries have nuclear bombs too and they have tested it. So I think this issue, people can see it in different ways. We must see which country needs a nuclear bomb," Monday's announcement by Pyongyang sharply escalated world concerns over North Korea's nuclear program and was a slap in the face for major regional and world powers engaged in six-party talks intended to prevent just such a test. It delivered a sharp blow to Chinese President Hu Jintao's doctrine of using economic incentives and diplomatic coaxing to avert North Korea's drive to become a nuclear weapons state. Only seven states have acknowledged having nuclear weapons. The Security Council discussed a U.S. proposal for tough measures including international inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea to check for weapons of mass destruction and related materials, diplomats said. Other proposals included a total arms embargo and a freeze on assets associated with Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction. ENDS.

ITN Source | October 10, 2006

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