Rason

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)
• Hancha	羅先特別市
• McCune–R.	Rasŏn T'ŭkpyŏlsi
• Rev. Roman.	Raseon Teukbyeolsi
250px
Country	North Korea
Region	Kwanbuk
Area
• Total	746 km2 (288 sq mi)
Elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	196,954
• Density	275/km2 (710/sq mi)
• Dialect	Hamgyŏng

Rason (formerly Rajin-Sŏnbong; Korean pronunciation: [ɾasʰʌn, ɾadʑin sʰʌnboŋ]) is a North Korean city and ice-free port 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.

In South Korean pronunciation, the initial "R" of the name is pronounced as "N," 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 in 14 August 1945.

Before 1991, Rason was used by the Soviet Union as an alternative warm water port in case Vladivostok was unavailable. 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 to its older designation as a "Directly Governed City". It is unclear what this means in practice.

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

Administrative divisions

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

Rajin-guyŏk (라진구역; 羅津區域)

• Anhwa-dong (안화동)
• Anju-dong (안주동)
• Chigyŏng-dong (지경동)
• Chunghyŏn-dong (중현동)
• Ch'angp'yŏng-dong (창평동)
• Ch'ŏnggye-dong (청계동)
• Hahyŏn-dong (하현동)
• Haebang-dong (해방동)
• Kwangok-tong (관곡동)
• Namsan-dong (남산동)
• Tongmyŏng-dong (동명동)
• Sanghyŏn-dong (상현동)
• Sin'an-dong (신안동)
• Sinhae-dong (신해동)
• Sinhŭng-dong (신흥동)
• Songp'yŏng-dong (송평동)
• Yŏkchŏn-dong (역전동)
• Yuhyŏn-dong (유현동)
• Much'ang-ri (무창리)
• Huch'ang-ri (후창리)

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/駙浦里)
• Sahoe-ri (사회리/四會里)
• Uam-ri (우암리/牛岩里)
• Wŏnjŏng-ri (원정리/元汀里)

Transport

Rail

Rajin Station is on the Pyongra Line.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of cities in North Korea
• Rajin University of Marine Transport
• Special cities of Korea
• Geography of North Korea

Further reading

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

External links

• 360 degree panorama of Rajin Port in Rason
• North Korea Uncovered (North Korea Google Earth) Maps out Rason's economic infrastructure, including railways, hotels, tourist destinations, cultural facilities, ports, electricity grid, and electrified perimeter fence on Google Earth.
• City profile of Rason