Radio Free Asia reported Thursday it is likely that China will directly provide electricity to North Korea’s Rason Special Economic Zone.
 
Curtis Melvin is a researcher at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. He told the Washington-based international broadcaster that 68 electricity transmission towers are being built in the Rason district near the Chinese city of Hunchun. 

Citing satellite photos taken in March, Melvin said the installment of electricity wires also began to link the towers that stand at intervals of 170 to 350 meters.
 
The researcher said China has already wrapped up the establishment of power supply lines on its territory and that cross-border power supply will begin once North Korea completes its side of construction.