Rason

Rason (formerly Rajin-Sŏnbong; Korean pronunciation: [ɾa.sʌn, ɾa.dʑin.sʌn.boŋ]) is a North Korean city and ice-free port[3] in the Sea of Japan in the North Pacific Ocean on the northeast tip of North Korea. It is in the Kwanbuk region and location of the Rason Special Economic Zone.

This article is about the North Korean city. For the Australian politician, see Hector Rason. For his ministry, see Rason Ministry.

Rason

라선시
Special city
라선특별시 · Rason Special City
Korean transcription(s)
 • Chosŏn'gŭl라선특별시
 • Hancha羅先特別市
 • McCune-ReischauerRasŏn T'ŭkpyŏlsi
 • Revised RomanizationRaseon Teukbyeolsi
Rason sights: Bipaseom Island (top), Imperial Hotel and Casino (bottom left), Rason Hotel (bottom right)
Country North Korea
RegionKwanbuk
Government
 • Party Committee ChairmanRim Kyong-man[1] (WPK)
 • People's Committee ChairmanCho Chong-ho[1]
Area
 • Total746 km2 (288 sq mi)
Elevation
27 m (89 ft)
Population
 (2008)[2]
 • Total196,954
 • Density275/km2 (710/sq mi)
 • Dialect
Hamgyŏng
Time zoneUTC+9 (Pyongyang Time)

In South Korean pronunciation, the initial "R" of the name is pronounced as "N", (나선, Naseon) as per standard Korean phonology. In 2000, the name was shortened from "Rajin-Sŏnbong" to "Rason". During the 1930s, the Japanese called it Rashin; at that time, it was an important port at the end of a railroad line. It was liberated by the Red Army on 14 August 1945.

Before 1991, Rason was used by the Soviet Union as an alternative warm-water port in case Vladivostok was unavailable.[4] The Soviet naval facilities were built starting in 1979.[5] From 1993 to 2004, it was administered separately from North Hamgyŏng as the directly governed city (Chikhalsi) of Rason. Prior to 1993 and from 2004 to 2009, the city had been part of the North Hamgyŏng Province. Since 2010, the city is a "special city", again breaking from provincial control, but different from its older designation as a directly governed city.[6] What this means in practice is unclear.

Rason borders Hunchun county in Jilin province of China and Khasansky District in Primorsky Krai of Russia.[3] China is making investments in the port as it gives it access to the Sea of Japan.[3][7] In July 2011, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) gave a green light for China's domestic trade cargo to be shipped via its port of Rajin from northeast to east China.[8] Coal is shipped from nearby Chinese mines to Shanghai.[3] A casino by the sea caters to Chinese visitors.[9]

Rason in 2007

Climate

Rason has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dwb).

Climate data for Rason
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −3.8
(25.2)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 4.4
(39.9)		 11.4
(52.5)		 16.1
(61.0)		 19.0
(66.2)		 23.2
(73.8)		 24.8
(76.6)		 21.3
(70.3)		 15.3
(59.5)		 6.0
(42.8)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 11.3
(52.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −9.1
(15.6)		 −6.8
(19.8)		 −1.3
(29.7)		 5.2
(41.4)		 9.9
(49.8)		 14.2
(57.6)		 19.1
(66.4)		 20.7
(69.3)		 16.0
(60.8)		 9.4
(48.9)		 0.9
(33.6)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 6.0
(42.8)
Average low °C (°F) −14.4
(6.1)		 −12.5
(9.5)		 −6.9
(19.6)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 3.8
(38.8)		 9.5
(49.1)		 15.0
(59.0)		 16.6
(61.9)		 10.8
(51.4)		 3.5
(38.3)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 −11.2
(11.8)		 0.8
(33.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 6
(0.2)		 8
(0.3)		 21
(0.8)		 30
(1.2)		 71
(2.8)		 101
(4.0)		 116
(4.6)		 196
(7.7)		 114
(4.5)		 55
(2.2)		 24
(0.9)		 10
(0.4)		 752
(29.6)
Source: Climate-Data.org [10]

Administrative divisions

Rason is divided into one district (kuyŏk) and one county (kun).[11]

Rajin-guyŏk (라진구역; 羅津區域)
  • Anhwa-dong (안화동/安和洞)
  • Anju-dong (안주동/安住洞)
  • Jigyŏng-dong (지경동/地境洞)
  • Junghyŏn-dong (중현동/中峴洞)
  • Changphyŏng-dong (창평동/倉坪洞)
  • Chŏnggye-dong (청계동/淸溪洞)
  • Hahyŏn-dong (하현동/下峴洞)
  • Haebang-dong (해방동/解放洞)
  • Kwangok-dong (관곡동/寬谷洞)
  • Namsan-dong (남산동/南山洞)
  • Tongmyŏng-dong (동명동/東明洞)
  • Sanghyŏn-dong (상현동/上峴洞)
  • Sinan-dong (신안동/新安洞)
  • Sinhae-dong (신해동/新海洞)
  • Sinhŭng-dong (신흥동/新興洞)
  • Songphyŏng-dong (송평동/松坪洞)
  • Yŏkchŏn-dong (역전동/驛前洞)
  • Yuhyŏn-dong (유현동/踰峴洞)
  • Muchang-ri (무창리/武倉里)
  • Huchang-ri (후창리/厚倉里)

Sŏnbong-gun (선봉군; 先鋒郡)
  • Sŏnbong-ŭp (선봉읍/先鋒邑)
  • Tuman'gang-rodongjagu (두만강로동자구/豆滿江勞動者區)
  • Ungsang-rodongjagu (웅상로동자구/雄尙勞動者區)
  • Chosal-li (조산리/造山里)
  • Hahoe-ri (하회리/下檜里)
  • Hayŏp'yŏng-ri (하여평리/下汝坪里)
  • Hongŭi-ri (홍의리/洪儀里)
  • Kulp'o-ri (굴포리/屈浦里)
  • Paekhang-ri (백학리/白鶴里)
  • Pup'o-ri (부포리/鮒浦里)
  • Sahoe-ri (사회리/四會里)
  • Uam-ri (우암리/牛岩里)
  • Wŏnjŏng-ri (원정리/元汀里)

Port

The Korean People's Navy maintains a naval training base at the Rajin Port in the city of Rason. In addition, a Chinese company in 2017 leased a dock for 10 years at the port.[12]

Economy

Rason is home to No 28 Shipyard Najin, a shipbuilder and supplier to the Korean People's Navy.

The Rason Emperor Hotel and Casino is a resort and casino in Rason owned by the Emperor Group, a diversified Hong Kong based commercial group.[13]

Transport

Rail

Rajin Station is on the Pyongra Line and Hambuk Line. The Hongui Line was opened in 1959, connecting Rason with the Russian Khasan on the Tumen River; the river is the natural North Korea–Russia border.

Road

The Tumen River Bridge connects between Hunchun and Rason.

See also

References
  1. "Organizational Chart of North Korean Leadership" (PDF). Seoul: Political and Military Analysis Division, Intelligence and Analysis Bureau; Ministry of Unification. January 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  2. DPR Korean Central Bureau of Statistics: 2008 Population Census (Population 2008, published in 2009)
  3. Andray Abrahamian (September 2011). "Report on Rason Special Economic Zone" (PDF). Choson Exchange. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  4. Robinson, Thomas W (January 1982). "The Soviet Union and Asia in 1981". Asian Survey. A Survey of Asia in 1981: Part I. 22 (1): 13–32. doi:10.1525/as.1982.22.1.01p0334u.
  5. Hodson, H. V.; Rose, Bishakha, eds. (1980). The Annual Register of World Events 1979. 221. Great Britain: Longmans Group Limited. pp. 104, 314. ISBN 0-8103-2023-1.
  6. "Rasun Becomes Special City". Daily NK. 5 January 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
  7. "Strategic Implications of China's Access to the Rajin Port". The Jamestown Foundation. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011.
  8. "DPRK allows China domestic trade cargo to ship via its port". China Daily. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011.
  9. Wong, Edward (12 October 2011). "Tending a Small Patch of Capitalism in North Korea". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  10. "Climate: Rason". Climate-Data.org. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  11. "라선시 - 북한지명사전". North Korea Net. JoongAng Ilbo. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  12. "China leases Rason port for 10 years". North Korean Economy Watch. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  13. "Gambling as usual up North for Emperor Group casino". South China Morning Post. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

Further reading
  • Dormels, Rainer: North Korea's Cities: Industrial facilities, internal structures and typification. Jimoondang, 2014. ISBN 978-89-6297-167-5

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