North Korean land on Chinese side of Tumen river has been promoted as opportunity by nearby Hunchun authorities

A planned China-North Korea cross-border economic development zone (EDZ) stalled under sanctions in recent years may finally be under construction, satellite imagery taken since October suggests.

The Kyongwon Economic Development Zone (경원경제개발구), as it is called in North Korea — first announced in October 2015 — has received sustained interest from local authorities across the border in China and even detailed blueprints developed by a Chinese company.

It has also received renewed attention in DPRK state media this year, but had until recently seen little movement on the ground.

New construction

An effort was started