Difference between revisions of "Infrastructure: North Torbia"
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=== Telecommunications Architecture === | === Telecommunications Architecture === | ||
− | The telecommunications network is fiber optic and 3g cellular technology. The cellular network only covers 16 percent of the country. Of note the DPRT severely restricts the ability of the common person and even government officials from calling outside of North Torbia. There is no Internet access on mobile phones. Cellular phones also all have logs that by government officials review to ensure no | + | The telecommunications network is fiber optic and 3g cellular technology. The cellular network only covers 16 percent of the country. Of note, the DPRT severely restricts the ability of the common person and even government officials from calling outside of North Torbia. There is no Internet access on mobile phones. Cellular phones also all have logs that by government officials review to ensure no wrongdoing. |
− | There are currently 1.07 million landlines in North Torbia. | + | There are currently 1.07 million landlines in North Torbia. Typically, only senior government officials have land line phones. To get a landline a person must submit their rank, reasons for having a phone, and how they will pay for it before they are able to get one. Landline phones are in government offices, collective farms and state run businesses. Only 15 percent of the landlines are controlled by private citizens or homes. |
3.16 million residents have a cell phone. The cell phones have a digital signature so that the DPRK can track whom they call. As of three years ago, the no mobile phones were able to dial out of the country or into it. The cellular network only cover 16 percent of the country. | 3.16 million residents have a cell phone. The cell phones have a digital signature so that the DPRK can track whom they call. As of three years ago, the no mobile phones were able to dial out of the country or into it. The cellular network only cover 16 percent of the country. | ||
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The country greatly restricts internet access to people in the government. North Torbia has created their own intranet to connect all government offices (from national to provincial). It is highly regulated and monitored. There is limited outside internet connection in some of the major hotels for international travelers that is restricted and monitored. | The country greatly restricts internet access to people in the government. North Torbia has created their own intranet to connect all government offices (from national to provincial). It is highly regulated and monitored. There is limited outside internet connection in some of the major hotels for international travelers that is restricted and monitored. | ||
− | Three national stations broadcast from | + | Three national stations broadcast from 9am to 3 pm local time. Some local villages have their own radio stations. All radios have been modified to only receive approved DPRT channels. |
− | There are seven | + | There are seven tv stations ran by the central government. The tv stations do not broadcast until the new at 1700. On Sundays, broadcasts start at 0600. If it is a holiday, sporting event, major event, or emergency it will broadcast. Over 50 percent of North Torbian’s have access to television. All televisions are preprogrammed to only North Torbian channels. |
The government runs all media forms and only approved material is broadcasted. It is illegal to watch / listen / read anything that may portray DPRT in a negative light. | The government runs all media forms and only approved material is broadcasted. It is illegal to watch / listen / read anything that may portray DPRT in a negative light. | ||
=== Agriculture === | === Agriculture === | ||
− | 69.8 percent of North Torbians work in the agriculture sector accounting for 12.4 percent of the GDP. The country is not self sufficient | + | 69.8 percent of North Torbians work in the agriculture sector, accounting for 12.4 percent of the GDP. The country is not food self-sufficient. Sanctions placed on North Torbia created severe food shortages, and subsequent reliance on international aid. Rice accounts is planted on 60 percent of the land that can be farmed and accounts for 97% of crops produced. Other agricultural products include corn, pineapple, other fruits, and sugarcane. In remote, mountainous regions, cannabis and hemp are also cultivated. |
− | North Torbians still use traditional farming methods and use natural irrigation to supply water to their fields. If any season is overly dry or wet | + | North Torbians still use traditional farming methods and use natural irrigation to supply water to their fields. If any season is overly dry or wet it can greatly impacts the crop production. There were severe droughts 30 years ago; the country is still recovering from them. |
=== Industry === | === Industry === | ||
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North Torbia has no oil deposits in its territory and must import petroleum, but faces ever-declining shipments from former allies and trade partners. The government would prefer to import only crude oil and process the oil at one of the country’s three refineries, which have a theoretical total capacity of 51,000 barrels of oil per day. Due to parts and labor shortages, actual output is much less with utilization rates as low as 41% of total capacity. As the refineries are unable to keep up with gasoline demand, despite an extremely low quantity of personal vehicles, North Torbia must also import refined gasoline. Concerning the Aparri refinery, nine companies from across Asia have already submitted their feasibility study reports and proposals. | North Torbia has no oil deposits in its territory and must import petroleum, but faces ever-declining shipments from former allies and trade partners. The government would prefer to import only crude oil and process the oil at one of the country’s three refineries, which have a theoretical total capacity of 51,000 barrels of oil per day. Due to parts and labor shortages, actual output is much less with utilization rates as low as 41% of total capacity. As the refineries are unable to keep up with gasoline demand, despite an extremely low quantity of personal vehicles, North Torbia must also import refined gasoline. Concerning the Aparri refinery, nine companies from across Asia have already submitted their feasibility study reports and proposals. | ||
− | Although North Torbia has a relatively low amount of proved natural gas reserves and production overall | + | Although North Torbia has a relatively low amount of proved natural gas reserves and production overall. North Torbia has no natural gas pipelines. North Torbia has attempted to put significant investment in this area, particularly with development of the reserves just off the Torbian coast. However, geographic restrictions and political constraints with South Torbia blocking both pipeline access and FDI means that despite total proved natural gas reserves of 283.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) in the Cagayan gas field, North Torbia only produced 16.8 bcm, much of which had questionable commercial viability. |
==== Defense Industries ==== | ==== Defense Industries ==== | ||
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==== Nuclear ==== | ==== Nuclear ==== | ||
− | North Torbia is advancing its nuclear weapons program by saying it is trying to invest in nuclear power as a sustainable method to combat the electricity blackouts. The DPRT is not a signatory to any treaties and under stiff sanctions by the US and several other organizations. The DPRT has fewer than 10 nuclear weapons. | + | North Torbia is advancing its nuclear weapons program by saying it is trying to invest in nuclear power as a sustainable method to combat the electricity blackouts. The status of the nuclear plants is unknown due to the reclusiveness of the DPRT government. The DPRT is not a signatory to any treaties and under stiff sanctions by the US and several other organizations. The DPRT has fewer than 10 nuclear weapons. Secretary-General Song has openly stated DPRT will strike first if he perceives that his regime is about to collapse—or that an extra-regional power is contemplating regime change. |
==== Space ==== | ==== Space ==== | ||
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==== Pollution ==== | ==== Pollution ==== | ||
− | + | Heavy deforestation coupled with slash-and-burn farming techniques devastated the North Torbian environment. Though the WPT started several programs to undo the damage done, no significant progress has been made. Rivers are severely polluted by industrial waste and farm runoff; the water is not safe for human consumption in most cases. Air quality and particulates in the air are among the worst in the world, due to the reliance on coal for power generation and individual households burning dirty fuel for cooking and heat. | |
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
− | The infrastructure of the DPRT is old, dilapidated, and in need of repair and | + | The infrastructure of the DPRT is old, dilapidated, and in need of repair and upgrade. Due to international sanctions and the isolationist policies of the DPRTs totalitarian state, resources and aid needed to maintain roads, electrical grids, bridges and damns, etc. is largely unavailable. Economic sanctions placed on the DPRT have also strained the already weakened economy. The small amount of aid that does reach the DPRT is diverted to the military and the ruling class at the expense of the rest of the country. The lagging infrastructure suffers from the inability to import much need resources due to the sanctions placed on the DPRT. |
{{:Pacific Linkbox}} | {{:Pacific Linkbox}} |
Revision as of 17:06, 4 May 2018
DATE Pacific > North Torbia > Infrastructure: North Torbia ←You are here
Contents
- 1 Construction Patterns
- 2 Major North Torbian Cities and Urban Zones
- 3 Utilities Present
- 4 Transportation Architecture
- 5 Summary
The infrastructure of the DPRT is old, dilapidated, and in need of repair and upgrade. Due to international sanctions and the isolationist policies of the DPRTs totalitarian state, resources and aid needed to maintain roads, electrical grids, bridges and damns, etc. is largely unavailable. Economic sanctions placed on the DPRT have also strained the already weakened economy. The small amount of aid that does reach the DPRT is diverted to the military and the ruling class at the expense of the rest of the country. The lagging infrastructure suffers from the inability to import much need resources due to the sanctions placed on the DPRT.
Construction Patterns
Construction in the four largest cities in the DPRT ranges from skyscrapers and modern buildings, to slums and shanty towns. Rural areas and villages tend to have limited infrastructure, usually having few paved roads, intermittent electrical service and basic water and plumbing.
Major North Torbian Cities and Urban Zones
Approximately 48% of the DPRTs citizens live in cities or urban areas. This is due to the DPRT’s centrally planned, collective economic initiatives. The DPRT’s four major cities house about 37% of the population. These four urban areas are the central engines of the DPRT’s economy.
Baguio City
Baguio City is a highly urbanized city in southern DPRT. It was referred to as the Summer Capital of Torbia in the period before WWII. It served as a provincial capital from 1901 to 1916, but has since been administered independently by the central government since the Torbian War. The city is the center of business, commerce, and education in northern Torbia, as well as the seat of government for the Worker’s Party of Torbia (WPT). According to a census three years ago, Baguio has a population of 345,366.
Citizens of Baguio enjoy a higher standard of living than the rest of North Torbia. Most of the population works for the Government or Armed Forces, or in industries that support the Central Government. Electricity, transportation, and housing is plentiful and functional in the capital, as opposed to the rest of the country, where these services are intermittent and unreliable.
What investments and business opportunities exist in North Torbia are usually centered in and around Baguio. Despite the city's relatively small size, it is home to numerous shopping centers and malls catering to increasing commercial activity in Baguio, although these businesses are plagued by chronic shortages of goods.
Food and retail businesses run by local residents form a key part of Baguio's cultural landscape. Several retail outlets and dining outlets are situated along Bonifacio Street, Session Road, near Teacher's Camp, and Baguio Fastfood Center near the market.
The areas of Session Road, Harrison Road, Magsaysay Avenue and Abanao Street comprise the trade center of the city, where commercial and business structures such as cinemas, hotels, restaurants, department stores, and shopping centers are concentrated.
Baguio is the country's only profitable investment area, with the Torbian People’s Economic Zone Authority (TPEZA) and an accredited business and industrial park called the Baguio City Economic Zone (BCEZ). Located in the southern part of the city between Camp Bansa Peoples Country Club and The Torbian People’s Army (TPA) Military Academy in Barangay Loakan. Firms located in the BCEZ mostly produce and export knitted clothing, transistors, and small components for vehicles, electronics and computer parts.
Aparri
The Municipality of Aparri is a city in the province of Cagayan, North Torbia. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 65,649 people. It sits at the mouth of the Cagayan River, the longest river in North Torbia, about 55 miles north of Tuguegarao, the provincial capital.
Aparri was formerly a foreign trading post due to its location at the northern tip of Luzon at the mouth of the Cagayan River. It was the main trade nexus for island of Luzon. Much of the area was once home to the native Ibanag people, who historically allied themselves with various foreign powers as an early form of an informal protectorate city-state. Since the Torbian War, the city has become a strategic military area for the Torbian military. The DPRT Naval Forces use the port of Aparri as a base, though they are unable to stage offensive operations due the dilapidated state of the port. Twelve years ago, the old naval pier deteriorated due to the rising level of water, storms, and poor construction. Work is underway to repair the damage.
Aparri's port is the main facility connecting the DPRT with the People’s Republic of Olvana (PRO). Of the The PRO is the DPRT’s only meaningful trading partner; most goods exchanged between the two countries flows through Aparri. What limited foreign shipping comes to the DPRT also utilizes the port: Aparri also boasts an international Sailor’s Club, as well as a meeting base for North Torbians and foreigners engaged in the shipping trade.
Aparri is the only city in North Torbia other than Baguio to operate a tram system. These trains are all second-hand from Baguio. Originally, it was planned to be a 32 km (20 mi) system, but only phase 1, 5 km (3.2 mi), and phase 2, 10 km (6.4 mi), were completed. Phase 3, which was to be 20 km (13.2 mi), was not completed due to lack of funds and material. Also, due to electricity shortages, the trams run infrequently. Besides trams, Jeepneys also operate, but only for four hours a day. Private taxis do not exist.
During the North Torbian famine some twenty years ago, Aparri was one of the worst affected locations in the country: death rates may have been as high as 20 percent. Food conditions there remain poor. This problem has caused several instances of civil unrest in Aparri, a rarity in North Torbia. The Central Government reacted with harsh repressive measures to the protests, killing 20-30 protesters and sending approximately 150 protesters and their families to prison camps.
Aparri is one of the DPRT’s important steel and fiber industry centers. It has a shipyard, locomotive plant, chemical plant, and a rubber factory. Near the port area are the Bakan Steel Co., State Chemical Textile Co., Northern Coal Mine Machinery Factory, and Torbia Iron & Steel. Industrial activities in the city are severely handicapped due to a lack of resources and skilled workers. Despite these challenges, Aparri is estimated to have a 34 percent share of the DPRT's foreign trade, and is host to a resident Olvanese consul who serves Olvanese merchants and businesspersons operating in the north east of the country.
Due to the heavy concentration of industries in the area, Aparri is the DPRT's air pollution black spot. Since the famine, Aparri’s industry and factories have decayed. Most of the factories—while still operational— have not upgraded in a half century or more. Pollution and environmental regulations are nonexistent, so pollution and smog have leave a constant haze over the city.
Some of Aparri’s main factories and industries are:
Aparri Clothing Factory – makes Vinalon cloth into uniforms
North Torbia Provincial Broadcasting Company
Aquino-ri Deer Company – makes medicine from deer antlers
Second Metal Construction Company
Cagayan Hot Springs – the alkaline waters are reserved for party officials and guarded by the military
The Zina Rang Mines – kaolin mine
The Aparri area has little arable land, so the famine in the hit the residents of Aparri particularly hard. During the famine, the local frog population was wiped out due to overhunting, and the presence of rabbits, squirrels, and rats went down drastically due to the population utilizing them as food source.
Camp 87, a large prison complex in the northern part of the city, houses more than 3,000 political prisoners. The camp uses forced labor to manufacture bicycles and other consumer goods.
A political reeducation camp, Camp 101, is located twenty miles southwest of the city.
The Aparri Detention Center, built during the Torbian War, is still in use. It houses criminals, as opposed to political prisoners. It is also the country’s center for executions.
Laoag
Laoag was originally a small fishing village that became a port for foreign trade in 1910, developing into a modern port after WWII. Since then, the city’s importance as an industrial center has grown. Some of the city's industrial facilities include the Laoag Smelter Complex, the La-ri Glass Corporation, the Laoag Shipbuilding Complex, the Fishery Complex, and other local factories. Laoag is vital to the DPRTs shipbuilding industry. Facilities for freight transportation, aquatic products, and fishery, and a sea salt factory are located north of the city.
The Port of Laoag has an 8 –KM long Sea Wall that has three lock chambers which allow the passage of ships up to 50,000 tons, and 36 sluices. Laoag Harbor is often used as the primary port of call for the reception of foreign food aid assistance into North Torbia. Since the port receives the bulk of aid shipments, the Central Government ensures that it remains functional and conducts modernization and maintenance of all port facilities and infrastructure.
The road network in Laoag receives more government attention than other cities, due to the importance of the traffic through the Port of Laoag. Roads in the city are fairly modern and functional. The rail system is also fairly modern, as it services the port and the industrial section of the city. Laoag is home to Rehiyonal Airport, and can accommodate charter flights and the country’s airline, Paliparan.
Tuguegaro
Tuguegaro City is a city in northeastern North Torbia. A major urban center in the Northeastern Luzon, it is one of the fastest growing cities in North Torbia. This is due to the WPT’s forcible relocation of workers to work on construction projects to build new factories, rail facilities, and to support the growing coal mining industry. The DPRT is attempting to offset the effects of international sanctions by turning Tuguegaro into a profitable coal mining operation. It is estimated that these projects will be completed no later than the next four years.
Due to the rapid growth of the population, Tuguegaro has a very large system of shantytowns and slums that house the workers and their families. The rapid growth of the city has caused traffic problems and food shortages due to the WPT’s inability to plan and provide for the influx of workers.
Tuguegaro is considered a center for education in Northeastern Torbia, and is considered the university capital of the north. It has the most universities in the region, and it is home to several prestigious schools, such as the People’s Science and Mining College and the University of Medicine, which are both located in the modern, urban city center.
Other schools in the city are the University of Cagayan Valley, Matthias Tucker College, F.L. Vargas College, Maila Rosario College, City Technological Institute, Cagayan Metropolitan Institute of Technology, STI College, and AMA Computer College.
Tuguegaro also has CSU Morris (Sentinary Campus), and CSU Bosse (Carig Campus). Both universities have their own administration and are separated from each other.
The People’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (PTESDA) was established twenty years ago WPT in order to modernize North Torbian industrial and technical education. This agency forces the full participation of industry, labor, local government units, and technical-vocational institutions to develop the technical skills of the country's workers. The PTESDA complex and facilities are located at Carig Norte, in the industrial section of Tuguegarao.
Tuguegaro also has four State run hospitals, offering adequate health services to the people of the city and surrounding area.
Cagayan Valley Medical Center Cagayan Valley Medical Center is a medical institution with a bed capacity of 500, making it the largest medical facility in the entire Cagayan Valley Region. It is a leader in patient care, training, and research.
Tuguegaro State Hospital is a full service medical institution with a 250-bed capacity. It offers emergency, outpatient consultation, laboratory, diagnostics, and inpatient services. This hospital is reserved for WPT and offers the best medical care available in the city.
Ricardo Mulinaro Wellness Center is a private tertiary level hospital with a bed capacity of 100. It is located within the city's central business district.
Tuguegarao City People's General Hospital is a state-owned hospital located in the city's downtown area adjacent to the People’s Revolutionary Museum.
Population Density
Approximately 48% of the DPRTs citizens live in cities or urban areas. This is due to the DPRT regimes centrally planned, collective economic initiatives. Of this 48%, 20% (or approximately 15% of the population) are WPT members, and thus enjoy better housing, food, and standard of living than most North Torbians. Population density and urban construction patterns reflect the societal divide. The difference between WPT member housing and the slums and substandard dwellings that most citizens live in is drastic. Most citizens suffer through inadequate housing, utilities, plumbing, and access to reliable electricity. Even those lucky enough to live in dormitory-style housing near major factories, mines, and plants still lack basic necessities.
The population is centered around the four major urban areas, with the rest of the population living in rural towns and villages, and working on collective farms or state sponsored small industries. Since the WPT restricts internal movement in the DPRT, there is little chance for people to move to seek better employment or education.
Utilities Present
The DPRT depends on the oil and coal industries to drive its economy. North Torbia faces geopolitical difficulties in exporting their oil and coal, so most of these resources are used internally. The DPRT relies on tenuous routes to export their resources, nearly all of which go to the PRO.
Power
North Torbia’s energy infrastructure is obsolete and in disrepair. Power shortages and outages are chronic. Coal accounts for 70% of primary energy production, followed by hydroelectric power with 17%. Most of the electrical infrastructure is located in urban areas, with rural areas having limited, intermittent, or no access to electricity. The WPT increased emphasis on renewable energy projects like wind farms, solar parks, solar heating and biomass, but the lack of trained and capable technicians and workers has hampered this effort. North Torbia's long-term objective is to curb fossil fuel usage and become energy independent 2050. At the present pace of modernization, this goal will not be met, and the WPT will use the lack of adequate power as anti-U.S./South Torbia propaganda. Wind power is being emphasized as a key piece of the country's total energy demand under this strategy.
Water and Sewage
Access to running water and indoor plumbing is limited to those Party Members in major urban areas and even this is not functional by Western standards. Most residents of apartment buildings still use communal bath and toilet facilities , with individual bathrooms limited to Senior Party Members. In the countryside most citizens do not have access to indoor plumbing and use outhouses and transport water from rivers and streams for cooking and bathing.
Transportation Architecture
The transportation system in the DPRT is relatively underdeveloped, partly due to the country's mountainous areas and multiple scattered islands, and partly as a result of the government's persistent underinvestment in the nation's infrastructure. In recent years, however, the DPRT has been pushing to improve the transportation system in the country through various infrastructure projects.
Jeepneys are the most popular mode of public transportation in the DPRT. They are a ubiquitous symbol of DPRT culture. Another popular mode of public transportation in the country is the motorized tricycle; these are especially common in rural areas. The Torbian National Railway serves the Baguio and some parts of the rural area of the country, but it is mostly restricted to WPT and TPA use. Buses are important modes of public transport in urban areas.
Road Systems
The major road network in the DPRT consists of paved, poorly maintained two to three lane highways that connect North Torbia’s largest cities. Since travel is severely restricted and personal ownership of vehicles is outlawed, the roads are used mainly for military transport. Driving by citizens is usually limited to WPT functionaries on official business, and even these trips are subject to draconian rules as to how many people must be in the vehicle, numerous forms and permits, etc.
The minor road network consists of 505 km of paved roads and 1,700 km of unpaved roads. Quality remains poor due to the sanctions placed on the country. The primary focus of road maintenance is in and around the capital city. Roads through the mountainous regions feature narrow switchbacks and gravel, without guard rails. These roads are very dangerous even during good conditions, and become exponentially more dangerous during limited visibility and inclement weather. Police typically accept bribes in lieu of arresting and prosecuting people for violations. If a driver or passengers can not pay the required bribe, they may be arrested and prosecuted for even minor offenses.
Bus
The DPRT maintains a national People’s Bus Line that citizens can use to travel in the unlikely event that they are granted permission to travel. Most buses were donated by Donovia or the PRO after their lifespan in those countries expired. Due to the age and poor maintenance of the buses, they often break down. Each star on a bus indicates 10,000 trips: Most buses in the capital city have 10 or more stars on them. This record is only after their arrival in the DPRT; previous usage in other countries pushes this number even higher.
Baguio is the only city with a tram and trolley bus system. The trams and trolley buses were converted to electric power approximately 15 years ago due to limited amounts of fuel available. This system provides regular service throughout the town, but is effected by rolling black outs. If this happens, the riders are expected to get off the tram / bus and push it.
There is a black market bus system that operates in the towns in villages, where people with drivers licenses will buy outdated Donovian or Olvanese buses and use them for inter-city transport. These trips can be dangerous due to the roads and possible arrest due to unregulated travel.
Rail
Rail infrastructure in North Torbia is outdated and in a poor state. There have been no efforts to modernize the infrastructure since it was originally built more than 50 years ago. The tracks are all single, and require trains to wait sometimes several hours for another train to pass. Approximately 250km of track runs on the western coast of North Torbia. Tracks are narrow gauge are compatible with South Torbia. All of the locomotives currently in use are over 40 years old, and are diesel electric that are not reliable. Movement of freight and goods is prioritized above passengers. The trains do not run on a regular schedule and are prone to breakdowns and delays.
In Baguio they have a two line subway system that moves passengers below ground. The subway system is in relative modern state. It transports passengers either north to south or east to west. The tracks merge in the city center. There are several stations along the route, but not all of them are functioning. Subway cars are electric and are less prone to blackouts as the trams and trolley buses.
Air Transportation Systems
All airports in North Torbia are government-run. There are limited domestic flights and very few international flights; the only international destinations are Donovia and Olvana. Due to the sanctions and travel restrictions, air services have limited fuel, and their obsolete fleet of aircraft does not meet western safety or maintenance standards. The DPRT’s aging communication infrastructure is not integrated with other countries: air traffic controls are required to use a land line to international air traffic controllers in order to hand off an aircraft.
Paved Runways
- To be published.
Unpaved Runways
- To be published.
Major Runways
- To be published.
Name | Location | Length (m) | Surface | Elevation (m) |
San Fernando (Poro Point) Airport | 16°35′44.12″N 120°18′11.59″E | 2,120 | Concrete | 3.96 |
Loakan Airport | 16°22′30″N 120°37′10″E | 1,802 | Concrete | 1295.7 |
Laoag International Airport | 18°10′41″N 120°31′55″E | 2,780 | Concrete | 7.62 |
Cagayan North International Airport | 18°10′55″N 121°44′45″E | 2,100 | Concrete | 38 |
Tuguegarao Airport | 17°38′18″N 121°43′50″E | 1,967 | Concrete | .31 |
Cauayan Airport | 16°55′48″N 121°45′11″E | 2,096 | Concrete | 1 |
Map # | Elevation (Feet) | Latitude (D, M, S) | Longitude (D, M, S) | Length (Feet) | Width (Feet) | Surface Type |
Airports/Airlines
North Torbia has six major airports, with two of them being international. Airline terminals are very outdated, with limited modern infrastructure. The aircraft typically do not meet western safety standards, and the air traffic controllers are not internationally certified. Currently there are three airlines that operate in North Torbia: Paliparan, Donovian Air, and Olvanese Airways. Donovian Air and Olvanese Airways offer international flights to and from North Torbia. Paliparan is the only airline to offer domestic flights. It is the flagship carrier for North Torbia and is owned and operated by the WPT. There is no civilian ownership of aircraft in the country. All aircraft are dual-purpose, as they can be used for both civilian aviation and in support of military operations
Ports/Sea/River Transportation Systems
North Torbia currently has five ports: Laoag, Currimao, Aparri, Irene, and San Vincente. These ports lack many modern features that are standard in most ports around the world. North Torbia only has one deep water port - Laoag; remaining ports require ships to anchor outside and have the cargo barged into the port. The Cagayan River is navigable by smaller flat-bottomed vessels in the valley; how far up depends on the season and the river level.
The TPA Navy is responsible for securing the ports, rivers, and territorial waters of North Torbia. Of note, North Torbia believes their littoral area extends 75 nm from the coast not the internationally recognized 12 nm.
Pipelines
North Torbia does not currently have any pipelines. The DPRT is working to create pipelines from the port of Laoag (deep-water) to the capital of Baguio in the next 10 years.
Telecommunications Architecture
The telecommunications network is fiber optic and 3g cellular technology. The cellular network only covers 16 percent of the country. Of note, the DPRT severely restricts the ability of the common person and even government officials from calling outside of North Torbia. There is no Internet access on mobile phones. Cellular phones also all have logs that by government officials review to ensure no wrongdoing.
There are currently 1.07 million landlines in North Torbia. Typically, only senior government officials have land line phones. To get a landline a person must submit their rank, reasons for having a phone, and how they will pay for it before they are able to get one. Landline phones are in government offices, collective farms and state run businesses. Only 15 percent of the landlines are controlled by private citizens or homes.
3.16 million residents have a cell phone. The cell phones have a digital signature so that the DPRK can track whom they call. As of three years ago, the no mobile phones were able to dial out of the country or into it. The cellular network only cover 16 percent of the country.
Landlines as they are much more prevalent the cellular phones in the areas outside of the capital city.
The country greatly restricts internet access to people in the government. North Torbia has created their own intranet to connect all government offices (from national to provincial). It is highly regulated and monitored. There is limited outside internet connection in some of the major hotels for international travelers that is restricted and monitored.
Three national stations broadcast from 9am to 3 pm local time. Some local villages have their own radio stations. All radios have been modified to only receive approved DPRT channels.
There are seven tv stations ran by the central government. The tv stations do not broadcast until the new at 1700. On Sundays, broadcasts start at 0600. If it is a holiday, sporting event, major event, or emergency it will broadcast. Over 50 percent of North Torbian’s have access to television. All televisions are preprogrammed to only North Torbian channels.
The government runs all media forms and only approved material is broadcasted. It is illegal to watch / listen / read anything that may portray DPRT in a negative light.
Agriculture
69.8 percent of North Torbians work in the agriculture sector, accounting for 12.4 percent of the GDP. The country is not food self-sufficient. Sanctions placed on North Torbia created severe food shortages, and subsequent reliance on international aid. Rice accounts is planted on 60 percent of the land that can be farmed and accounts for 97% of crops produced. Other agricultural products include corn, pineapple, other fruits, and sugarcane. In remote, mountainous regions, cannabis and hemp are also cultivated.
North Torbians still use traditional farming methods and use natural irrigation to supply water to their fields. If any season is overly dry or wet it can greatly impacts the crop production. There were severe droughts 30 years ago; the country is still recovering from them.
Industry
The industrial sector in North Torbia includes agricultural processing, fishing and fish processing, wood and wood products, copper, nickel, cement and construction materials, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer, natural gas, garments, and jade and rubies. In addition to the potential wealth of natural resources, government-owned factories as well as cottage industries produce tobacco on a small scale. Some other industries include food and beverages, electronics, electrical products, steel processing, chemicals, garment, metal and machine products, although the vast majority of these tie directly to the defense industry. The fishing industry is hampered by inefficiencies in fish processing and transportation, resulting in large quantities of waste prior to fish reaching consumers.
Industrial infrastructure in North Torbia is nearly beyond repair due to years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. A lack of raw materials and electricity causes poor industrial performance. A notable exception is the automotive industry. Automotive manufacturing activities have been on the rise due to a combination of government subsidies and foreign investment.
As of January, a new state-owned steel factory has opened after two years under construction. This factory will produce between 36,000 and 60,000 additional tons per year. New residential construction and improvements on infrastructure will gradually facilitate steel consumption. The Torbian Economic Development Corporation, a fully state-owned enterprise, is the dominant player of the iron and steel industry. The Corporation operates three major steel mills with total capacity of 450,000 tons per year.
Oil/Gas
North Torbia has no oil deposits in its territory and must import petroleum, but faces ever-declining shipments from former allies and trade partners. The government would prefer to import only crude oil and process the oil at one of the country’s three refineries, which have a theoretical total capacity of 51,000 barrels of oil per day. Due to parts and labor shortages, actual output is much less with utilization rates as low as 41% of total capacity. As the refineries are unable to keep up with gasoline demand, despite an extremely low quantity of personal vehicles, North Torbia must also import refined gasoline. Concerning the Aparri refinery, nine companies from across Asia have already submitted their feasibility study reports and proposals.
Although North Torbia has a relatively low amount of proved natural gas reserves and production overall. North Torbia has no natural gas pipelines. North Torbia has attempted to put significant investment in this area, particularly with development of the reserves just off the Torbian coast. However, geographic restrictions and political constraints with South Torbia blocking both pipeline access and FDI means that despite total proved natural gas reserves of 283.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) in the Cagayan gas field, North Torbia only produced 16.8 bcm, much of which had questionable commercial viability.
Defense Industries
There are between 22 and 25 defense industries built or under construction in North Torbia, responsible for everything from manufacturing ammunition and small arms, to involvement in a nuclear and long-range missile program. Exactly what and how much each of these industries produces is, however, difficult to ascertain due to the difficulty in obtaining credible sources.
Nuclear
North Torbia is advancing its nuclear weapons program by saying it is trying to invest in nuclear power as a sustainable method to combat the electricity blackouts. The status of the nuclear plants is unknown due to the reclusiveness of the DPRT government. The DPRT is not a signatory to any treaties and under stiff sanctions by the US and several other organizations. The DPRT has fewer than 10 nuclear weapons. Secretary-General Song has openly stated DPRT will strike first if he perceives that his regime is about to collapse—or that an extra-regional power is contemplating regime change.
Space
North Torbia is actively working on a space program and satellites. Currently they only have one satellite in orbit but are working towards designing and launching another. They do not have any navigation satellites and may be using Olvanese or Donovian satellites for this purpose. Information is limited on the future endeavors on the DPRK space programs.
Pollution
Heavy deforestation coupled with slash-and-burn farming techniques devastated the North Torbian environment. Though the WPT started several programs to undo the damage done, no significant progress has been made. Rivers are severely polluted by industrial waste and farm runoff; the water is not safe for human consumption in most cases. Air quality and particulates in the air are among the worst in the world, due to the reliance on coal for power generation and individual households burning dirty fuel for cooking and heat.
Summary
The infrastructure of the DPRT is old, dilapidated, and in need of repair and upgrade. Due to international sanctions and the isolationist policies of the DPRTs totalitarian state, resources and aid needed to maintain roads, electrical grids, bridges and damns, etc. is largely unavailable. Economic sanctions placed on the DPRT have also strained the already weakened economy. The small amount of aid that does reach the DPRT is diverted to the military and the ruling class at the expense of the rest of the country. The lagging infrastructure suffers from the inability to import much need resources due to the sanctions placed on the DPRT.
DATE Pacific Quick Links . | |
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Belesia | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
Gabal | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
North Torbia | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
Olvana | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
South Torbia | Political • Military • Economic • Social • Information • Infrastructure • Physical Environment • Time |
Other | Non-State Threat Actors and Conditions |