Chapter 10 Yang Bin taking an oath of the Chief Executive round eighteen days

“I will go to Pyongyang in some days”
When the North Korean delegation left, Yang Bin was busy neatening the construction of Holland Village. Because there was the continuous rumor saying that “the construction of Holland Village has already stopped!” “Yang Bin will transfer the capital to the North Korean for investment”, it was mounting, even starting Shenyang City and Liaoning Province, and his cadre friends working in the government questioning closely this matter without stopping by telephone. Yang Bin had a great tug to explain: “I have invested all the money in Holland Village. It is so big property that I can not leave it. Why do not you trust me?”
Much more explanation was useless, and it can only be approved by behavior. But at this time, Yang Bin did not have too much capital to deal with, and he could not have afforded much more capital. Part of project fund that he owed the construction company was not too much according to proportional term and less than 30% of the construction cost. According to the status quo of China architecture construction, the company that can pay 70% of the entire architecture cost was a good enterprise. However, the Euro-Asia Group defaulted the workers’ wage for two months, and most of the employees in Hague Hotel were the local farmers and the drivers of motorcade were Shenyang residents, so that defaulting the wage of these workers will certainly spread very rapidly from mouth to mouth, as the infectious virus were quickly going the rounds of Holland Village and Shenyang City. Even if the normal reimbursement of the top managers of the Eurasia Group and Yang Bin had signed to grant the reimbursement, it also will be fought back when it reached Feng Shuo & the accountant-general. The young arrogant and domineering woman accountant made these top managers very angry. In addition, even the Yang Bin’s delegation members who did not draw the pay of Euro-Asia Company and the reimbursement of their come-and-go ticket were also fought back even if Yang Bin has signed on them. She even threatened that: “No matter whoever she is must listen to me and the reimbursement will be reimbursed if I say it can be reimbursed. I will not pay attention to the signature of Mr. Yang, because I can say that there is no money.” She can treat the delegation members of Yang Bin like this, the rather that the large or small construction members who were chasing the debt? The influence was very severe liking pouring oil on the flames which damages Yang Bin’s image deeply. After Yang Bin’s arrestment, Yang Bin had been impounded by police department because of the imputation that was on suspicion of forging tickets and evidence.
Although the capital needed to be dealt with, the sporadic finality project in Holland Village still needed to be carried out. At the last ten days of August, I accompanied Yang Bin inspecting the building site for several times. He drove Mitsubishi cross-country vehicle and patrolled around the Holland Village. Suddenly, there were little changes in the two sides’ architectures of the Holland Village’s large road and the strap of commodity building group, such as the disorder tile heap before the service station in the north gate of Holland Village, the building of street center garden in the commodity building, the grassplot in the road sides, the taking down of the planning-building five-star hotel bounding wall and the lawn of golf course etc.. Holland Village seemed to have a little vital force. Yang Bin expected “to mend the sheepfold after the sheep is lost”, but speaking the truth, if he made the decision at this time to cover the land alteration tax and to well deal with the questions that existing in the company, adding the urgent public relation, and it can also be said that “never too late to turn”. At least, the situation after failure will not be so painful.
Yang Bin and the counselors of his “negotiation and construction of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region”, their hearts were the tensest at this moment. The negotiation had already finished, when can the North Korean pass “The Fundamental Law”? Everybody was not clear about this, and Yang Bin was unsettled state of mind. However the adverse news spread constantly, the first of which was that the workgroup that send by the State Taxation Administration and the taxation departments of province and city were inspecting the accounts of Holland Village. Yang Bin said that the taxes of Forbes China’s 100 - the top 100 wealthiest Chinese billionaires were inspected, and his company was the overseas investment company enjoying three-year’s exemption treatment, and up to now one year was left. He had all the alteration procedures of real estate land, such as land certificate and real estate sale certificate. (I positively saw with my own eyes these certificates and procedures.) Mr. Yang said to me, “The taxes due indeed exists, to be clear, and it is affording the tax because of the land alteration? The municipal government borrowed near one billion from me, and cannot this be enough to afford the tax? Except the deduction of large more than 10,000,000 Yuans taxation and 40,000,000 Yuans land transferring fee, the municipal government still hands back several tens of thousands Yuans.” Therefore, I asked both Shi Jun and Li Gang, the two deputy chief. Li Gang said that the municipal government had indeed borrowed money from Lao Yang, about more than 80 million Yuans, which was not given back up to the present. The land department asked him to hand in the taxation of altering land purpose, so that Mr. Yang wanted this money returned from the government and took this money to cover the taxation. The municipal government asked Mr. Yang to hand over first, and then the municipal government will give back the about 80,000,000 Yuans to him. Finally，after the negotiation of the leaders of province and city government, they complied that this matter was discussed later, and the certificates of land and real estate were still efficient. Afterwards, the wrangle of this matter became the aggressive objective from each media, and the counts of Yang Bin were that involving in the tax dodging and tax evasion, altering agriculture land, and largely carrying on the real estate. The limitation of Yang Bin to the law knowledge and the lack of him to the deep-level understanding of Chinese society, he put all the hope on the “preferential policies” of provincial and city leaders which brought out the misplay of him in dealing with this matter and was an important factor that lead his failure.
Disadvantage news was heard that Taiwanese Liu Taiying and the son of Malaysia Prime Minister & Mahathir bin Mohanmed came to North Korean relevant departments, asking to do the project in the Sinuiju. This news was known from the friends in Taiwan and Hong Kong. I asked several consultants of Yang Bin, and they were also separately receiving this news from their friends. Was the matter of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region falling short of success for lack of final effort? Most of the consultants considered that members of “the delegation of the North Korean Side” were the important officials of each department in the North Korean government. In terms of several months contact, their conducting and acting were honest and upright, so that they will not do the things of small tricks. Because I lived in the Holland Village and had too much meeting and contact with Prof. Tong Lianfa of Shenyang province and Rector Wang Nuo of Seaport Designing Institute, sometimes we discussed certain problems with short times. Prof. Tong considered that discussion of the North Korean delegation to Fundamental Law was very earnest and responsible. Rector Wang was admiring that North Korean could work out the step of opening and had profound sentiment to the North Korean people. Among Yang Bin’s consultants, I was the oldest and educated by the old generation revolutionists, and the spirits of patriotism and internationalism were inveteracy. When I was in Beijing, I attended the welcoming pageant of General Kim II Sung visiting China, and twice saw Kim Jong II in Pyongyang in Apr. 2002, discerning and taking sincere love from the North Korean people to their leader. Therefore, Tong Lianfa, Wang Nuo and I were with profound sensation and trust sense to North Korean. Tong and Wang considered that I lived in Holland Village and generally conversed with Yang, hoping that I can do much work. Whereupon, in one day night, I knew from Chen Liang, the driver of Wang Bin, that the guest was away, so that I drove to the Yang’s domicile. When I arrived at the Yang’s living room, before igniting the cigarette, I heard the upstairs Yang Bin cry at me: “Guan has arrived? Hurry up!”
I climbed up the second floor. Yang Bin had just washed himself and was sitting on the sofa, letting Shen Liang help himself massaging, especially the legs and feet. Shen Liang was both his driver and his spare-time masseur, who was the chauffeur master coming from Hebei Country, faithful and honest, with good driving skill.
Shen Liang poured one cup of tea for me.
I asked Yang Bin: “Is there the news from North Korea?”
Yang said “none”. With that, he asked again, “Do you think that the Fundamental Law was passed by North Korean?”
I told the opinions of Prof. Tong to him. The delegates of North Korean side were conscientious and responsible, according to the fact that Mr. Tong and North Korean side were discussing the basic articles of the Fundamental Law sentence by sentence.
Yang Bin lit a cigarette, and said, “I also view like this. But somebody said that there was trap here. I was persuaded also by our people.”
I knew the fact that the person who said that there was the trap coming from Yang Bin’s friends and merchants living in Liaoning. However after the news that Yang Bin becomes the Chief Executive of Sinuiju was announced, these people were immediately flattering to the eye of Yang Bin’s and requested Yang Bin give them certain expediency and a larger slice of cake in Sinuiju. The person that Yang Bin had referred to “our people had persuaded me in this way” was one of his consultants. This consultant requested Yang Bin to work according to Commodity regulations, handing in the money first before doing the thing. During the several months interlocution with North Korean side, the negotiating delegates had not received any money from Yang Bin, so that the consultant considered that Yang Bin did not obey the Commodity regulation. Other members on the pretext of “attaching more importance on the enterprises” never mentioned the things of money. Of course, from the angle of commodity, we can not say that this consultant was wrong.
Wang Nuo had said several times, “I help Lao Yang not to earn his money but to think a lot of this great event of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region. I will feel satisfy if I can participate in this thing in my life.”
I told Yang Bin the words that Wang Nuo had said, and Yang Bin was deeply moved and said to me: “I know everybody is very painstaking in this several months. I also want to pay brothers the money? Guan, it is not convenient to say before the strangers that my capital is so little that can not turn over. If the SAR received the money, I would pay their wages and I wouldn’t let the brothers do for nothing!”
I consoled Yang Bin, “They came here not because of the money. One month of wage of Qiao Shengli is ten times higher than the money that you promised to pay. What did he consider was that building the Sinuiju Special Region was an important thing, which was a good thing to stabilize the peace and development of Northeast Asia Region. Mr. Wong’s income was thousands of Yuans each project, absolutely care nothing about your several ten thousand Yuans yearly salary. Both Dean Tong and Wang have much earning……”
When Yang Bin heard that, he spoke earnestly, “If the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region was built, it was not belonging to the single person of me & Lao Yang but to everybody. I worked for everybody. There are so many things asking the person to do, and we all have the specialty so that I hope that everybody gives play to their own specialty and do some things!”
I told Yang Bin, there was the news that the son of Malaysia president, Mahathir and Taiwanese Liu Taiying were trying to do some activities to grab the project of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region. When Yang Bin heard that, he said nothing because he was probably more confident that he was the only candidate of Sinuiju Special Region trusted by North Korean. At least, he helped the people of North Korean by his own practical behavior. But I still told him that, now that “Everything is in order except what is crucial”, which was also said that the negotiation of Fundamental Law had finished, only needing the central authorization of North Korean and this was the last step.
Before I was leaving, beating the tea table gently said, “Lao Yang, if opportunity knocks, just takes it!” Then I went downstairs.
When I walked to the living room, I heard a word from Yang Bin from upstairs, “I will go to Pyongyang in the future days.”
This was one night of the end of Aug. 2002.
Yang Bin flied to Pyongyang in advance.
On Sep 4th am, Yang Bin descended on Hong Kong.
On Sep 5th pm, Yang Bin arrived in Macao; the accompanying members were Ma Ning and Qiao Shengli.
At pm 6 of September 7, Yang Bin, Ma Ning and Qiao Shengli rode the special plane to arrive in Pyongyang of North Korean. One hour ago, Wang Nuo and others had arrived at the Moranbong Ambassador Hotel of Pyongyang.
“We were driving the car from Sinuiju to Pyongyang in September 7, and the time to Moranbong Ambassador Hotel was just pm 5. In a little while, Yang Bin and others had arrived.” ①
Wang Nuo introduced that he received the notice to Pyongyang, but he did not know what did they arrive in Pyongyang for at that time, because Yang Bin did not know when will the “Fundamental Law” be passed?
On September 8, Weng Yongxi arrived in Pyongyang.
On September 9, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was the 54 anniversary National Day. North Korean Government celebrated National Day Serving Banquet and asking Yang Bin to take part in.
Weng Yongxi flew back to Beijing at the same day. Before leaving, He told Yang Bin that the Chinese ambassador was certain to join the National Day Banquet of North Korean. When you watched the Chinese Ambassador in North Korean, you were certain to tell him that Sinuiju would constitute SAR and Kim Jong II appointed him to the chief executive of SAR, asking the ambassador convey to Chinese government and hoping receiving the support of Chinese Government.
Yang Bin came back from taking part in the North Korean National Day Banquet, and Ma Ning etc. the people asked Yang Bin: “have you seen Chinese Ambassador?”
Yang Bin answered that the Chinese Ambassador in North Korean did not leave Beijing on business and arrived at the meeting. The Commissary Ambassador of Chinese Minister in North Korean took part in the banquet, and the reporters in North Korean of Zhang Jinfang and Zhao Jiaming etc. that working in Chinese Xinhua News Agency and China Daily.
Yang Bin said, he found Chinese Minister in North Korean in numerous banquets and the crowd, and introduced himself to minister voluntarily. The Minister said that, I knew you by the telephone. Hong Kong Phoenix TV Zeng Zimo covered your news, and you had discussed for near 40 minutes. Yang Bin asked Minister to convey Chinese Government that North Korean would construct SAR in Sinuiju and he would take up the post of the Chief Executive of SAR, hoping receive the support of Chinese Government.

[Photo: September 24, 2002, “Agreement Script” was celebrated in second floor auditorium of Pyongyang Culture Palace. Left one of the front row before the picture was Yang Bin. Right one was Chairman of the Economic Cooperation and Promotion Committee of North Korea.]
September 9, Mrs. Qiao Shengli was in hospital for operation because of illness. When the news spread to Pyongyang, he had no choice but to fly back Shenzhen in a hurry. Weng and Qiao left Pyongyang one after another, only leaving Yang Bin, Ma Ning and Wang Nuo, and the Prof. Tong Lianfa who just returned from Shenyang. ②
“I was flying from Shenyang to Pyongyang at 3:30, pm, September11. After getting off the plane, the personnel of North Korean met me, and took me one dock of Taedong River in the car and stepped on one yacht, watching Yang Bin, Ma Ning, Wang Nuo and Qiao Shengli here. This was a miniature wandering-river junketing held by the Mayor of Pyongyang. The Mayor of Pyongyang spoke first and welcomed Pres. Yang Bin and other people to Pyongyang. Mr. Yang addressed to express thanks. Everybody was toasting and singing to the fun over eating barbecue. This banquet was finished when colorfully decorated lanterns were just turned on, so that everybody came back to Moranbong Ambassador Hotel. ③
Tong Lianfa introduced situation that he first arrived in Pyongyang, and said that:
September12, the North Korean Summitry Standing Committee authorized “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Basic Law of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region”, but the side of North Korean did not notice Yang Bin immediately.
September13-17, Yang Bin and his consultants were prattling at the Moranbong Ambassador Hotel the whole day and eagerly wishing the passing of “Fundamental Law”.
September 8, the side of North Korean noticed Yang Bin officially that Summitry Standing Committee of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had officially passed Basic Law of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region. A few days late, the agreement was signed and North Korean would publicize externally and officially. After a few days, Yang Bin would swear the accession to North Korean Summitry.
After Yang Bin heard that, he laughed loudly. His eyes were narrowed to one slot, and he pulled the hands of President: “President Kim, you have worked hard these months, and the same to the friends of North Korean! Tonight I junket everybody in Moranbong Ambassador Hotel! I junket everybody!”
At the night of 18, the delegation members of North Korean were invited to Moranbong Ambassador Hotel. Yang Bin and his several consultants were describing a dinner party at which wine flows freely and brimming with smiles, and the two sides celebrated out and away. ④
Yang Bin finally became the chief executive of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region. He finally won the bet with over one year’s painstaking effort, scariness and wager like ropewalker. This was not only more than one year? This was one year after another and a few score one year! This was “from orphan to chief executive”, and the endless and over thirty years gambling! Yang Bin thought he had won the gamble. At this very moment, he had forgotten everything, only knowing that he was the chief executive.
He did not know how much wine had he drunken in this evening and did not remember that! He only remembered that when he returned to the room, he immediately telephoned Mrs. Pan Chaorong who was in Holland Leiden. What did he say? He did not remember. He only remembered that he told Pan Chaorong that I-Yang Bin-Your husband was now the Chief Executive of Sinuiju!
He did not remember what he talked about with his wife in the telephone afterward, and he only remembered that he asked his wife immediately arrive at Pyongyang with their children by plane. When Pan Chaorong heard this, she felt a load off his minds finally. She flew to Macao in a hurry and changed to take the plane to Pyongyang.
Although Yang Bin did not remember how much wine had he drunk in this evening, but he was after all the person who battled in the trade for a long time and practiced drinking lots of wine. He remembered that after telephoning Pan Chaorong, he phoned Yang Yingying up of “Yixing PR Company”, asking her to immediately organize the foreign reporters to Pyongyang.
“Must invite the important foreign TV stations and pressmen in the newspaper office, such as Reuter, Associated Press, New York Times, Japan TBC, and Kyodo News Agency, The Yomiuri Shimbun, BBC, South China Morning Post and Phoenix TV etc...”
“Expenses?”
“I will pay”
“What about HK$5000, 000?”
“No problem.”
Yang Yingying did not fail Yang Bin’s expectation, and she invited important foreign TV stations and the pressmen of the newspaper here. In fact, who the foreign pressmen would not come here if they had the opportunity to set foot on the mysterious North Korean Country, and saw with their own eyes and interviewed the world explosive news in Pyongyang?
“Therefore, Yang Yingying took a real bite out of the bank account!” I was told by the person who was well in with Yang Bin.
Yang Bin did not forget telephone Zheng Zimo who was working in Phoenix TV because of drinking too much wine, and he by himself sent out the invitation asking her to participate the accession ceremony of Chief Executive.
Afterward Zheng Zimo narrated the course in this way:
“Late at night, Sep.18, 2002, I received the telephone from Yang Bin at nearly twelve o’clock. This time, he did not pass the time of the day and chat, but coming straight to the point: “Xiao Zheng, I was in Pyongyang now! The Sinuiju of North Korean wanted to set up a Special Administrative Region like Hong Kong, and I was the Chief Executive. A few days later, the accession ceremony was to celebrate, and could not you come here and take a phone?”
“September 22, numerous pressmen such as CNN and BBC and I arrived in Pyongyang.”
“In the morning of the second day, Yang Bin presented to Koryo Hotel that we lived in. With a large retinue, he was high-spirited and vigorous, perking and taking big strides to step in scene of Sinuiju Pressmen Meeting.
“At this time, Yang Bin was waving and greeting me with smile over sitting: “When come here? What about your last night rest?”
“To Phoenix TV, Yang Bin indeed had some preference. In front of everybody, he spoke without disguise: “Phoenix TV is given the first opportunity of putting questions! And the first special report is arranged to Phoenix TV.”
At11 pm, September19, 2002, Yang Bin invited me to participate in the accession ceremony of Chief Executive in North Korean by telegraph. At that time, I was keeping the bed and turning over this day’s Reference News. The top line in the front page: Diplomatism of North Korean Bringing Chance to East Asia aroused my maximum interest, especial the article of September 18, Strait Times of Singapore with the author of foreign Eric•Taiao. When he commented on the Diplomatism of North Korean, he said that: “Under the situation of unexpected interior reform and the inside mutual moving of International Community and North Korean, North Korean began the contact with his neighboring countries. Yesterday Japan Premier Koizumi carried through the historical visit to Pyongyang.


[Photo: At 5 pm, September 23, 2002, the signing ceremony of “Agreement Script” was held in People Culture Palace of Pyongyang. The picture was Yang Bin and Chairman Kim Yongshu of the Economic Cooperation and Promotion Committee of North Korea interchanging the text of “Agreement Script”. ]
I suddenly remembered August 23 parley between Russia President Vladimir Putin and General Secretary Kim Jong Ⅱof Labor Party in Democratic People’s Republic of Korean. Putin’s “North Korean Card” was called killing three birds with one stone. First of all was that Russia wished to play the function of intermediation between America, Japan, Korean and North Korean Dialogue; second was economic field. The most earnest thing was to let the connection between Siberia Railroad and North Korean Railway and exploitation of Siberia oil and gas field and carrying them to Korea through North Korean; last was wishing that North Korean compensated the debt not in the form of labor but in the form of cash. They wanted to urge the economic reform and foreign opening of North Korean, fetching in the capital of America, Japan and Korean, so that both debt difficult problem can be solved in this way. Putin was really called that he achieved the purpose of killing three birds with one stone by making the best of “North Korean Card”.
Kim Dae-Jung, Vladimir Putin and Koizumi met Kim Jong II one after another. What about China? As a writer very concern of every behavior, I can not help with anxiety.
But the following discussion of Erik • Taiao let my anxiety receive some mitigation.
China seems once again become the main coordinators of political and economic rejuvenation of North Korean. Beijing may become the main beneficiary of reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula, because Pyongyang was studying the model of Chinese economic opening up and revitalizing. Chinese businessmen may become “pull strings people” of North Korea’s business confidence. China’s “Big Brother” will play a major role in the process of linking Pyongyang and the outside world, especially in the circumstances that China’s economic strength and influence are increasingly receiving global recognition.
Ultimately, the reconciliation of Korean Peninsula will provide the impetus for the development of the northeast Asian region. North Korea’s reconstruction need pay out great effort, and at the same time provide enormous opportunities for Japan, South Korea and China. In the circumstances of neighboring economic stagnation or slow development, North Korea could become the target of their joint efforts, which in turn will promote the development of economic in Northeast Asia.
I quietly agreed with the point of view of Eric • Taiao. The Korean Peninsula is in urgent need of peace and development, while North Korea’s economic reform and opening to the outside world, brings new opportunity to the Korean people, and the political and economic stability and development to the neighboring countries and Northeast Asia’s regions. China will be the promoter, coordinator and beneficiary of peace and development in Northeast Asian regions.
Well, Sinuiju Special Administrative Region that planned by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korean is bound to bear the brunt of.
“China will support the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region.” I was deep in the extreme excitement.
At this moment, my phone rang, and the voice of Yang Bin came from the telephone: “Lao Guan, where are you?”
I knew that Yang Bin and several negotiators were now in Pyongyang, and telephone was called from the Moranbong Ambassador Hotel. There was the international long distance phone in the room on the second floor, while not in other rooms.
I quickly swept with a vision the horologe bedside the night table, and it was 12:00 midnight, while Pyongyang is 1:00 am September. 20. He telephoned in advance to my villa in Shenyang Netherlands village, but I left that place for four-day.
I said: “in Beijing. Have not slept…”
Yang Bin excited voice came from the phone: “Korean Parliament has passed the Fundamental Law, and press conference will soon be held. Tomorrow morning you arrive in Shenyang by plane. I have given the directive, and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the consulate in Shenyang. Reception Office has also arranged well for you, so that you must rush to Pyongyang in the two days!”
All of a sudden, that was finally a weight off my mind, and it seemed to be a sense of relief. The body was easy together.
Our several months of efforts were finally with a result. Even all kinds of unfair treatment and suspicion that I received in Holland Village were cast beyond the highest heavens.
“Good, tomorrow morning I will fly to Shenyang.” I answered Yang Bin, and then shut the phone.
That night, I thought a lot.
At 11:00 on September 20, the Air China flight that I took had arrived in Shenyang Taoxian Airport on time, and the Dutch Village had sent a vehicle to meet me.
But the subsequent days and few ten days, I still felt all sorts of trouble; even foreboding……
First of all, Duan Xiaohong who was responsible for passports to go abroad in Holland Village Reception Office was absence, because he was Dandong at this moment.
But on the 21 and 22, that is, Saturday and Sunday, the Korean Consulate was in vacation, so that transacting passports had to wait until Monday. However Northern Airlines had cancelled the flights to Pyongyang, and on Wednesday, the Koryo airways only had the flights to Pyongyang. It seemed that I only had to Danton for the “river passport” and then appointed the car from Pyongyang to meet me in Sinuiju.
In the afternoon, I drove the car to Danton. As night fell, when the car entered the Danton Downtown, the colorful lightening just began. When I arrived in Danton Hotel, one friend in municipal government called on me.
When I asked the matter of handling “river passport”, he answered: “tomorrow and the day after tomorrow were the holidays, even if handling “river passport” on Monday, which was only to Sinuiju, not Pyongyang!”
I contacted Duan Xiaohong who was in Danton, but he was on the road returning to Shenyang.
I had on choice but to stay with ease and talked with his friends.
On Saturday, I contacted with Pyongyang, without results.
On Sunday, I returned to Shenyang Dutch Village.
At 9:00 am of Monday, Duan Xiaohong well transacted the visa for me to Pyongyang, and I immediately went to Danton by quickly driving car once again. The driver ran very fast with the speed of 140 Mai. When the car came to Phoenix Mountain, my phone rang. It was from the Secretary of Yang Bin & president of the Office from Pyongyang, and she told me: “Mr. Yang hastened to ask where was teacher Guan at present?”
I answered that: “I was hurrying on the road to Danton, and already arrived at Phoenix Mountain.”
Secretary He said: “ok, I contact you again later on.”
With that, the telephone hung up.
When the car was soon into the urban area, a woman called me from Pyongyang, and she said that she was the translator in Euro-Asia Pyongyang’s Agriculture Company and had seen me in Pyongyang. Was he Yang Bin who asked me where I was at present?
I said the car was immediately to Danton urban area, and I would be living in Danton Hotel.
When I lived in the room and rest in the living room, the interpretress telephoned again and asked me how to cross the Yalu River.
I replied: “I have transacted the passport visa to Pyongyang, and here see me off across the river to Sinuiju, but Pyongyang must send people and car to meet me.”
She said happily: “All right, I report Mr. Yang!”
At 17 pm on September 23, and then led by Yang Bin parts of the negotiator, vice president of Euro-Asia Group and staff had arrived at the People’s Cultural Palace in Pyongyang meeting hall, the formal signing of the agreement and announcing the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region Fundamental Law. Many foreign journalists witnessed this historic moment. Immediately, and the whole world knew that North Korea was to establish the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region, and the Dutch Chinese Yang Bin will be chief executive.
At 10 am September 24, I received the telephone from Pyongyang called by Secretary Li, who was working in the president Yang Bin’s Office, and he told me: “North Korea can not send cars to Sinuiju. At this time 5:00 pm Pyongyang, North Korea Supreme People’s Assembly will hold a swearing ceremony of the SAR Chief Executive. In tomorrow morning of the 25th, Mr. Yang took its special plane back to Shenyang, and it appeared that the hope of teacher Guan going to Pyongyang and participating in the swearing ceremony is little…”
I replied immediately: “Ok, I hurry back to Shenyang tomorrow.”
Phone was cut off. I was from Beijing to Shenyang and Dandong, driving for a few days. However as the writer of Yang Bin biography, I was finally not able to go to Pyongyang by passing the river, witnessing this historic moment, which was really regret.
On the 25 at noon, I went back to Holland Village in Shenyang.
Establishing celebrations of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region and the swearing of the chief executive were in the evening of September 18. Yang Bin informed Yang Yingying of “Yi Xing Public Relations Company” by telephone, and requested her organize international media for him to make sure they arrived in Pyongyang on the 22. He also informed Zeng Zimo of Phoenix TV by himself. Zeng Zimo the “Beijing girl” had questioned the fact when Yang Bin was paid attention by the media at home and abroad together, and she led an interview group by himself to interview Yang Bin in Shenyang Holland Village. Yang Bin considered that interview of Phoenix TV was quite objective and fair, and therefore he had a good impression to Zeng.
Zeng Zimo mentioned the cause of her going to North Korea in its subsequent reports.
Zeng Zimo of Phoenix TV and other reporters took photo in Pyongyang with Yang Fenglin, the fourth aunt of Yang Bin.
“September 18, late at night, I received the telephone from Pyongyang, which North Korea will soon set up the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region, and implement the separations of legislative, executive and judicial separation powers. The Hong Kong-listed company Euro-Asia Agricultural Chairman Yang Bin will be the first Chief Executive of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region.”
Here, there is negligence to Zeng Zimo, and Yang Bin will not hold the post of “Chief Executive”, but “SAR of Chief Executive”. Below the Chief Executive were separated into three powers-legislative, executive and judicial. Yang Bin was the Chief Executive of SAR and the Chief Executive, which many people often made a mistake and considered that there was no difference.
“September 22, we take the private charter flights leased from Jinlu Airline company from Hong Kong to Pyongyang, accompanied by CNN, BDC, the Associated Press, Dow Jones, South China Morning Post and Times, and few international medias.”
As far as I knew, the private charter airline of Jinlu Airline Company that taken by Zeng Zimo and other reporters was chartered by Yang Bin perennially. He chartered a total of two such small executive planes, every time out and home from Hong Kong, Macao, Shenyang and Pyongyang, and other places, and even some members of Yang Bin delegation from Shenyang to Pyongyang, taking on these two small planes. It was no wonder that later hearing that Zeng Zimo and other people, who flew to Pyongyang from Hong Kong, flied for full eight hours in the air. Taking off from nine o’clock in the morning, they only arrived at Pyongyang Shunan International Airport, when the sunset afterglow incarnadined west of the sky.
Finally embarking on the “remote and mysterious” Korean territory, the feelings of these reporters were excited and delicate, because “any source from the land will cause many people’s attention.” ⑤
However, these groups of foreign journalists were strictly inspected in the custom, and their phones were left behind and a receipt was obtained. When Customs promised to let them go, they can retake their mobile phones with a paper receipt.
Afterwards, they under the guiding of North Korea’s leader drove the car along Shunan express road directly into urban areas, hardly leaving this road to the Koryo Hotel. A few days ago, when Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited North Korea, the officials of the Japanese Government Liaison Department and the Japanese Foreign Ministry official reporting room and the reporters of West and Japan were living in here. This was the second foreign guesthouse in Pyongyang; the first one was Yanggakdo Hostel not far from here.
Zeng Zimo, the master of Phoenix TV master, first impression on Pyongyang, it was a city of “beautiful and clean”. On the day of Zeng Zimo and many international journalists flying to Pyongyang, September 22, many of the world’s major news agencies, TV stations and newspapers had reported in succession the news and reviewed that North Korea was in the establishment of the Sinuiju Special Economic Zone.
[AFP, Beijing, September 22] North Korea decided to open a border city to “Special Administrative Region.”
Analysts said that the move meant that the world’s last piece of the huge untapped market to open, like practice 20 years ago of the southern Chinese city-Shenzhen.
Sinuiju, located in the west of the river through China and North Korea finally into Yellow Sea, is North Korea’s main channel of foreign trade. There is a bridge linking it with the Chinese city of Dandong.
The leaders of Pyongyang said the region would be given the right of development, utilization and management of land, and enterprises in this region would be encouraged to employ (North Korea) manpower.
Observers believed that this point of allowing employing labor force of North Korea may be particularly noteworthy; many foreign investors would gradually realize the benefits of this policy.
After North Korea announced Sinuiju will become Special Administrative Region, many people immediately compared it with China’s Shenzhen. The latter was from a small fishing village into a modern and built-up city in 20 years of time.
The idea of setting up Sinuiju for the Special Administrative Region was initially brought forward by Kim Jong II the supreme leader of North Korean. It was said during the period of Kim Jong II twice visiting China that rapid growth of China’s economic had left a deep impression to him.
[Korea Times the article of September 22] title: test of North Korea’s transition to a market economy -- Sinuiju
It was clear signs that North Korea recognized the need for some forms of market system to help its economic growth, and that to some extent was willing to open to the world.
The determination to adopt a “new” economic system was becoming more and more obvious in some of the measures. For example, it abolished the rationing system and in addition senior officials of North Korea also made many speeches in order to attract foreign investment policies.
In fact, defining Sinuiju as a “SAR” was North Korea’s latest efforts that it needed to attract urgent foreign investment and technology and to support the struggling economy.
In many ways, the establishment of the SAR indicated that Pyongyang was so seriously to adopt a new economic system - though the new economic system will be strictly limited to the SAR.
In addition to diplomacy, the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region will be a full self-government to manage the region and will have its own legislative, executive and judiciary departments.
Analysts said that because it was no long needed to work by the central government of bureaucracy, Pyongyang wanted to ensure justice in the new state business and to provide maximum flexibility and freedom.
Professor Xu Dongnan said: “Sonbong-Rajin development zone under the leadership of the Central Government had clearly made Pyongyang recognize that in order to attract foreign companies to the region; a more autonomous system is needed.”
On September 23, the North Korean government officially announced that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea established the SAR in Sinuiju and implemented the open-door policy. Reporters had received a piece of Press Bulletin This was prepared by Yang Bin’s advisers together with the North Korea delegation and emitted after passing the approval of the Korean Authority. This was the first time “Press Bulletin” on the establishment of the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region. All of a sudden, the contents of this notice were published by reporters, and were spread throughout the world.
Now, Press Bulletin was reproduced as follows:
News Bulletin
According to the decree of Korean Democratic People’s Republic, decided to establish the Special Administrative Region in Sinuiju City and its surrounding areas; awarded the district independent legislative, judicial and administrative management, the implementation of the current international economic system and management system, and the central government not to intervene. North Korea Supreme People’s Assembly had constituted “Basic Law of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region”, the appointment of Mr. Yang Bin Dutch Chinese Special Administrative Region Chief Executive, authorizing him to the formation of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region Preparatory Committee, and on this basis, establishing the Special Administrative Region Government.
North Korea Sinuiju Special Administrative Region locates at east longitude 124.20 °, north latitude 41.10 °, district area of 132 square kilometers, including the Sinuiju City and the Great Chicken Island coastal areas. The area will construct large scale of deep-water berths as the leader and implement the wide opening to the external world. Its development goal is to establish a highly developed economic center in northeast Asian region, taking high-tech industries, coupled with the port industry, logistics, financial services and tourism as its backbone internationalization region.
Sinuiju Special Administrative Region will establish a high free economic and trade system to ensure that all personnel, goods and capital freely pass in and out; implement special preferential taxation and other policies to all investors; sufficiently protect investors’ economic interests in the SAR and the rights and interests stipulated by the Special Administrative Region Fundamental Law. The district will maintain each policy for 50 years. 50 years later, the Korean Central Government will continue to protect investors’ existing interests in the Sinuiju region.
Sinuiju Special Administrative Region Government commits itself to the comprehensive development of culture, education and health etc. the fields; without prejudicing to national sovereignty and security of North Korea, permit and respect investors and developers to maintain the original lifestyle and cultural habits and strive to create a free and liberal international working and living conditions. Special Administrative Region Government in dealing with the civil service will be clean and efficient, fair, open and fair. All the Korean merchants and local residents are equal before the law, the establishment of good social order investment environment.
The establishment and construction of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region will contribute to peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia and contribute to world peace and stability. Economic prosperity of the area will make an important contribution to its surrounding region and the world’s economic development.
Sinuiju Special Administrative Region sincerely welcomes friends around the world to invest and engage in commercial activities and together create a bright future prosperity. ⑥
Zeng Zimo said: “the country adhering to socialism and upholding the main thinking, even embarking on the road of reform and opening up.” British reporter O’Nea of South China Morning Post Participated in the interview activities in Pyongyang, and later in Beijing said to me: “Hooray! Really can not believe, who drew out the Fundamental Law? It is great!”
Shortly after 4 pm, Yang Bin leading members of the delegation Ma Ning, Tong Lianfa, Wang Nuo, and Euro-Asia Group Deputy president Shi Jun, Bian Shoujie, Li Gang and others, arrived in Pyongyang People’s Cultural Palace in advance. Here is the place in which Korean held ministerial meeting; this is a three-tier grey building back to Putongjiang. In the past, Yang Bin delegation to Pyongyang and the issue of talks on Sinuiju Special Administrative Region with Korea was on here.
Today, the establishment celebration of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region was held here.
At 5:00 sharp, signature ceremony of “basic agreement” is held on the second floor conference room. Yang Bin, on behalf of Netherlands Euro-Asia the international trading company and Jin Yongshu on behalf of the Korean Foreign Economic Promotion Committee signed in an agreement separately. The person participating in the ceremony were Yang Bin, and his wife Pan Chao-rong, Ma Ning, Tong Lianfa, Wang Nuo, Shi Jun, Bian Shoujie, Zhou Xiang, Li Jiahua, Jack, Wang Chenggui, and so on; the delegation of North Korea were Jin Yongshu, Kim Dongkyu, Xu Ming-kui, and so on.

[Photo: Korean Cabinet Deputy Prime Minister Zhao Changde met with the Yang Bin and others in the Cultural Palace Chamber. The picture was about Zhao Changde shaking hands with Ma Ning. ]
At 5:30, North Korea’s vice premier of Korean charging economy Zhao Changde met with designated Yang Bin and others in the People Cultural Palace Chamber. Zeng Zimo who participated in this interview described Yang in this way: “Yang Bin changed normal white T-shirt casual attire to a black suit, black shoes and white socks. Like more than 20 million Korean people, Yang Bin and his staff had put on the red leader badge in the front of their bosom. If Sinuiju was to implement thorough capitalism, however the red leader badge still reminded everyone that here was North Korea, the socialistic Korean, and North Korea of taking the main thinking as the guidelines.”
At 18:00, Yang Bin held a large banquet in the People’s Cultural Palace banquet hall, junketing of the Korean government officials and foreign reporters attending the interview celebration activities. Zhang Jinfang Pyongyang branch chief reporters of China’s Xinhua News Agency and Zhao Jiaming of People’s Daily in North Korea’s chief reporter also were invited to attend the banquet. Ms. Yang Bin-Pan Chaorong coming from the Netherlands attended the banquet, sitting on the side of Deputy Prime Minister Zhao Changde. “Ms. Yang dressed in red suits and the meticulous and continuous maintenance of her face forming sharp contrast with Yang Bin’s dark face and the vicissitudes of life.”
The banquet, Yang proposed a toast: “I proposed Cheers for the eternal life of great leader Chairman Kim, for the health of the great leader and General Kim Jong Ⅱ, for the success of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region and prosperity of Korean Democratic People's Republic!”
After the banquet, the staff of Euro-Asia Group sent gifts to the participants at the entrance, and the inside of red paper bag was a heavy dark cloth. “The favor of the Korean guests to the gift was clearly written on their faces and eyes.”
In the evening of September 24, Chief Executive of Sinuiju Special Administrative Region swore the ceremony held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall of Pyongyang. Mansudae Assembly Hall is in the centre of Pyongyang City, and is just in Mansudae Street between Putongjiang and Taedong River. This is the locus of North Korean Supreme People meeting and also the place of organizing state affair activities and foreign affair activities.
Professor Tong Lianfa, Yang Bin’s legal adviser, attending the swearing-in ceremony, recalled the scene at the time and said: “At 17:00, we were with Yang Bin to the Mansudae Assembly Hall, taking a rest in the VIP room. Protocol officer of North Korea simply introduced approximately ceremonial order to us. At 6:00 sharp, the oath-taking ceremony began. Protocol officer led us into the Chamber in accordance with the order of Yang Bin, Ma Ning, I, Li Jiahua, Wang Nuo, Li Gang, Shi Jun, Bian Shoujie.”
“Kim Yong Nam, chairman of the Standing Committee of North Korea Supreme People’s Assembly, has been at the table. He watched us coming in the face of the door. The row of Kim Yong Nam’s right was sitting the Deputy Chairman Yang Hyong-sop, vice chairman Kim Yong Dae, the Secretary-General Jin Runhua and the members of Korean Supreme People’s Assembly. We walked into the Chamber, led by the protocol officer along the left side toward ahead. From Yang Bin, we in turn shook hands with Kim Yong Nam the chairman, and then stood on the left side of the Kim.
Protocol official announced that the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region Chief Executive swearing-in ceremony of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea began. Now called on the Chairman of Korean Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Yong Nam, and appointed the appointment book to Chief Executive of the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region.
Kim Yong Nam stood up, first issued decree, and announced that according to the Korean Supreme People’s Committee, the appointment of Yang Bin to the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region’s Chief Executive of the Korean Democratic People’s Republic. Immediately, he granted appointment letter and work permit of the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region Chief Executive to Yang Bin.


[Photo: North Korea Supreme People’s Assembly chairman, Kim Yong Nam, granted appointment letter to the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Yang Bin.]

[Photo: September 24, 2002, the Supreme People’s Assembly Committee vice chairman, Yang Hyong-sop, shook hands with the just appointed the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Yang Bin and congratulated him. ]
September 24, 2002, after the appointment ceremony of SAR Chief Executive, the Korean Supreme People’s Assembly chairman Kim Yong Nam had a group photo with Yang Bin, and so on the people. Yang Bin immediately handed appointment letter and work permits to his private translation Jin Hu, who was standing behind him. Yang Bin walked to the opposite side of Kim Yong Nam and swore before the microphone loudly: “I was an orphan from a young age without kindred feelings. The great General Kim Jong II with kind like the sea entrusted the heavy responsibility to me. Under the great care of general, I was daring to repay him. I swore that I was daring to uphold and follow General! Regardless of whatever test, I will be the son and warrior of the generals! My coming generations were coexistence of life and death with North Korea.”
Immediately after the oath-taking, Yang Bin approached to shake hands with the Korean Supreme People’s Assembly chairman, vice chairman and Standing members.
A ceremony is rather brief, only 20 minutes. After the ceremony, we took a photograph, before huge oil paintings of Kim Jong II surrounded by full of flowers in the painting. At this point, all the official ceremony of the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region ended.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the Korean Supreme People’s Assembly vice chairman, Yang Hyong-sop, held the small banquet, less than about 10 people. In addition to Yang Bin himself, they were Ma Ning, Wang Nuo, Tong Lianfa and all the other were the senior leaders of North Korea. The Vice Chairman Yang Hyong-sop, said in his speech that hoping the new Sinuiju into a renewed city, the friendship city and peaceful city. Later, Ma Ning talked about the matter to the penman and he said: “According to our understanding, these words of Yang Hyong-sop, vice chairman should be the official targeting of North Korean government to Sinuiju: renewed city - from the domestic political and economic Angle, desiring Sinuiju contribute to the cause of domestic economic recovery and reform and opening up; friendship city - from the angle of the Sino-North Korean friendship, building the Sinuiju as the symbol of Sino-North Korean friendship; peaceful city - the Sinuiju’s development and prosperity contributing to the stability of the Korean Peninsula and peace of Northeast Asia.” ⑦
September 25, Yang Bin and his advisers returned to Shenyang by Yang’s private jet.
Since then, the final act of Yang Bin was pushed into climax myth, because of more dramatic deduction.
Notes:
①, ② Talk between Wang Nuo and the author.
③ Talk between Tong Lianfa and the author.
④ This section is mainly based on Wang Nuo introducing the temporal course.
Therefore, the author verified it with Tong Lianfa and so on the persons.
⑤ Please refer to Zeng Zimo: report of North Korea Sinuiju.
⑥ Press bulletin was provided by the Office of Yang Bin.
⑦ Couse of oath-taking ceremony was provided by Wang Nuo, Ma Ning, Tong
Lianfa, Li Gang, Zhou Xiang, and so on the people.