China offers 10 million yuan worth of relief goods to North Korea

On April 22, 2004, a strong explosion was caused by the contact of electric lines with tank wagons loaded with nitric ammonium fertilizer at the Ryongchon Railway Station in North Phyongan Province in northwestern part of North Korea. (朝鲜平安北道龙川火车站爆炸事故 in Chinese) According to preliminary investigations, the radius of damage was 2 km but the most serious damage was contained within a 1.5 km radius.

The massive railway explosion near the Chinese border killed 161 people, injured at least 1,300, and nearly killed Kim Jong Il on his return from a visit to China. Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.