People hope for positive results at China-DPRK border

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Paintings are one of the very few things not affected by the UN sanctions. Sun Yong, a private collector from Dandong, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, has dedicated 12 years of his life collecting cultural pieces for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Sun has never stopped looking for the finest pieces.

It's not a coincidence that some of the world's finest music and art are born during difficult times, especially during war. From Sun’s point of view, no matter what the situation turns out to be on the other side of the border, the glow in his gallery should never be dimmed.

Sun Yong, a private collector from Dandong, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, has dedicated 12 years to working on the culture of the DPRK. /CGTN Photo

“My collection hasn't been affected by the sanctions at all. After years of working in this field, my gallery has become well-known in the DPRK art world. I have DPRK painters coming to my gallery and drawing all the time,” said Sun.

For Sun’s visitors, the ability of an artist to turn painting into feeling has been a source of wonder. Views differ from person to person, but all these pieces from China's neighbor share one thing in common－they capture experience in a vivid way.

“Wherever you go around the world, you wouldn't find a country like the DPRK where its artists always deliver positive messages in their works,” Sun told CGTN.

Viewers can feel a desire for prosperous and colorful life from their paintings.

Paintings from DPRK often capture an experience in a vivid way. /CGTN Photo

As the largest Chinese city bordering the DPRK, Dandong has long been put at the forefront of China's commercial interactions with the DPRK. But in the past several years, businesses here have run out of options as tensions grew on the Korean Peninsula.

After years of sanctions imposed on China's neighbor, Dandong has lost the position as a bustling cross-border trading hub it used to be.

This is why local people are expecting the best outcome from the historic talks between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (ROK), as well as the possible upcoming US-DPRK summit.

As the largest Chinese city bordering the DPRK, Dandong has long been put at the forefront of China's commercial interactions with the DPRK. /CGTN Photo

There are speculations that the prices of properties at the border may jump up, as a sign of DPRK's possible economic boost, Chen Yan, a resident of Dandong told CGTN.

Another local resident believes a peaceful peninsular is good for everybody.

Lv Chao, an expert on Korean studies at Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences suggests that, if the DPRK has already displayed sincerity on terminating the nuclear program, all parties involved should work together in making way for peace.

"It is a big step the DPRK has taken in making this announcement. Countries like the US that have been strict in initiating and imposing sanctions should also give some positive responses, and the US-DPRK summit is a great opportunity to make a breakthrough," Lv commented.