Developed as a major settlement during
Japanese colonial rule at the terminus of a railway bridge across the Amrok River, Sinuiju is located 11 km (7 miles) south by southwest of
Ŭiju, the old city from whose name Sinŭiju (meaning “New Ŭiju”) derives. As an open port, it grew commercially with the logging industry which uses the Amnok River to transport lumber. Additionally, a chemical industry developed after the hydroelectric Sup'ung Dam was built further up the river. During the
Korean War, after being driven from
P'yŏngyang,
Kim Il Sung and his government temporarily moved the capital to Sinŭiju - although as
United Nations Command forces approached, the government again moved - this time to
Kanggye. However, the city has since been rebuilt. In 2018, a master plan for the redevelopment of the city was unveiled and shown to
Kim Jong Un, which would have featured many high rise buildings and parks, centered around the road leading to the statues of Kim Il Sung and
Kim Jong Il. Ultimately, this plan has yet to be fulfilled, with the only major work completed being the repaving of roads leading to the statues and the red coloured, circular apartment building behind and the Sinuiju Youth Open Air Theatre's completion, although the industrial areas in the city have seen some reconstruction. ==Economy==