Current Status of the Train Accident at Ryongchon Station
ROK Ministry of Unification
2004-05-10
1. Outline
o North Korea continues to provide, through various media, relatively prompt and detailed accounts of the train blast at Ryongchon Station in North Pyongan Province that took place around 12:15 p.m. on April 22, including the cause of the accident, what is being done to recover from the losses and damages, and external assistance.
2. Main Points Reported
< Confirmation of the accident>
o On April 22, while trains loaded with chemical component fertilizer and tank cars containing oil were being repaired at Ryongchon Station in North Pyongan Province, they came in contact with an electrical wire through carelessness, setting off a massive explosion. (April 24, Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang Broadcasting Station, Korea Central Television Station)
¡Ø Chemical compound fertilizer: ammonium-nitrate fertilizer
Repair: replacement of old parts with new ones.
- According to the investigation so far, the extent of the damage is considerable and the investigation is still underway.
< Extent of Damage & Current Status >
o The radius of the damaged area is 2§°, the severely damaged area measures 1.5§°, and the hole in the ground caused by the explosion is 5 m deep.
- The area affected by the explosion is larger than initially estimated. The human casualties and material damages are catastrophic within a 4§° radius, to say nothing of the Ryongchon town center.
o Property damage includes the nearby Ryongchon Elementary School (total floor space 3,250 m²), a cultural center (total floor space 2,800 m²), public buildings, industrial and commercial facilities (over 30 in all), and more than 8,100 homes.
- At least 150 people lost their lives and more than 1,300 were injured. The number of missing persons is currently being investigated.
o Initial estimates reported a total loss of more 48 billion won (300 million euro).
< Restoration Project >
o Deputy Prime Minister Roh Du-cheol is leading the Ryongchon Restoration Central Command, composed of members from the cabinet, ministries and the central government in restoration projects. In parallel, the People's Committee of North Pyongan Province, led by Park Kyung-sam, is also active in aid and restoration projects alongside responsible individuals in the province.
o The party's provincial committee has also gathered workers from cities and counties within the province and mobilized the entire work force from plants and factories to complete the basic restoration work on the destroyed areas within three months by:
- establishing an immediate repair and construction plan, including the construction of 25 public buildings and 800 new homes and repair work on 3,600 homes;
- organizing construction teams capable of implementing the standard design for building two 2-3 floor apartment complexes, one with six units and the other with twelve. Bulldozers, cranes, and other equipment and machinery appropriate for the job are being mobilized;
o The groups leading the projects are equipped with outstanding design skills and have begun plans for renovating the Ryongchon area.
o The hole in the ground at the site of the explosion has been temporarily filled and basic railway facilities restored to ensure the operation of train services.
- A portion of the inner roads around Ryongchon Station and main roads in the area have been restored.
< Internal Assistance >
o Workers in provincial and central organizations are sending a large amount of relief materials to the people of Ryongchon.
- Workers of the cabinet offices visited the disaster site to assess what needed to be done and to put in place necessary measures.
¡Ø The National Planning Committee, the Ministry of Construction & Construction Materials, the Ministry of Forestry, and the Ministry of Communications are sending hundreds of tons of cement, construction materials, and various materials and equipment to ensure communication while workers from the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Health, and others are providing basic necessities and medical supplies. (April 26, Korea Central Broadcasting)
o Party members, workers, and students from Shinuiju, Jeongju, Yeomju and elsewhere are sending charitable donations of basic necessities and materials needed for restoration.
< Assistance from the international community >
o Diplomats from various nations residing in North Korea as well as delegates of international organizations have visited the site of the accident and are donating medical supplies, food, basic necessities and other relief materials.
- Such humanitarian assistance is encouraging our people's efforts to heal the wounds inflicted by the disaster.
o Many governments, international organizations and groups have expressed their willingness to provide humanitarian aid to our country.
- South Korean entrepreneurs and groups are continuously sending consolation messages and conveying their plans to help through such organizations as the Chosun Asia-Pacific Committee and the National Reconciliation Association.
o The Chinese government has decided to send 1,000 yuan worth of emergency aid supplies free of charge.
- Russia will also provide medical supplies, tents, blankets, etc. worth 1,360 rubles free of charge, the first shipment of which was scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang on April 27.
o South Korea will provide, free of charge, medical supplies, blankets, clothing, food, etc. worth one million dollars. The first shipment of supplies arrived at Nampo Port on April 29. (April 30, Korea Central Broadcasting)
¡Ø North Korea has requested supplies of cement, bulldozers, diesel fuel, vinyl chloride, etc. through the North-South talks for relief aid on April 27 in Gaeseong.
3. Analysis
o North Korea confirmed the train accident at Ryongchon Station two days after the incident through the Korean Central News Agency.
- The cause of the accident was identified as ¡°carelessness in the process of repairing a train carrying ammonium-nitrate fertilizer and a tank car carrying fuel, resulting in accidental contact with electrical wires.¡±
- The report on the status of the damage officially states, ¡°So far, the damage has been found to be catastrophic and the investigation is still underway.¡±
- As regards external aid and support, ¡°We appreciate many governments, international organizations and groups expressing their willingness to provide humanitarian aid to our country.¡±
o North Korea's position reflected in such an attitude reveals:
- by clarifying the cause of the train accident rather quickly and clearly, North Korea is trying to put an end to the rampant suspicion at home and abroad regarding the cause of the accident.
- by suggesting that the scale of the damage is catastrophic, which is expected to increase and positively appreciating the external willingness to provide aid and support, their intention seems to rally all possible support from the international community in order to recover from the incident as fast as possible.
o North Korea is expected to continue to do its utmost at the governmental level and intensify its efforts to recover from the accident with the assistance of South Korea and the international community.
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