North Korea has established a new port construction department at Hamhung University of Water Conservancy and Power Engineering, collaborating with Russia’s Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU). This initiative intends to lay the groundwork for the “Grand Canal Construction” project that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced, connecting the East and West Seas.
North Korea’s state media, Rodong Sinmun, reported that Hamhung University of Water Conservancy and Power Engineering has newly established departments of port construction engineering and reclamation engineering.
The newspaper highlighted that Kim had instructed to nurture many talents in port design and added that university officials had resolutely prepared to launch the new departments.
Hamhung University of Water Conservancy and Power Engineering is one of six North Korean universities selected for enhanced collaboration with FEFU. Evgeny Vlasov, the Vice President for International Relations at FEFU, stated in an interview with TASS last month that additional cooperative projects would proceed with Hamhung University of Water Conservancy and Power Engineering and other institutions, including the College of Science, Huichon University of Telecommunications, Kim Chaek University of Technology, and Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.
The establishment of new departments at a university expected to engage in active collaboration with Russia suggests an intention to develop relevant technologies and address talent cultivation issues with Russian assistance.
Port construction is part of Kim’s ambitious plan to build the “Grand Canal,” a project he has long prioritized.
In his September 2022 address to the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim stated, “We must establish scientific calculations and precise plans for prospective economic projects, including constructing a grand canal connecting the country’s East and West Seas. Once we begin, we must allocate national resources to ensure its success.”
Despite these plans, there have been no visible signs of construction starting. Undertaking large-scale infrastructure projects like the Grand Canal is challenging due to the need for substantial capital, equipment, technology, and labor—all of which North Korea has found challenging to secure amid sanctions.
Earlier this year, Kim reiterated his commitment to the “Grand Canal” during his January address to the Supreme People’s Assembly, highlighting it as part of grand operations planned for the construction sector. He stressed the importance of thorough preparations for transforming provincial capitals and building the canal to connect the East and West Seas.
Hamhung, a key port city near the East Sea and close to Russia, could be a significant hub for future exchanges with Russia.
Professor Hwang Jin Tae from Dongguk University’s Department of North Korean Studies remarked, “If the Grand Canal project, which aims to create a new logistics transport route connecting the East and West Seas, becomes a reality, it could not only open new revenue streams for North Korea but also become a significant factor in the geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics of Northeast Asia.”