Rason

Rason
라선시
Special city
라선특별시 · Rason Special City
Korean transcription(s)
 • Chosŏn'gŭl 라선특별시
 • Hancha 羅先特別市
 • McCune-Reischauer Rasŏn T'ŭkpyŏlsi
 • Revised Romanization Raseon Teukbyeolsi
Rason sights: Bipaseom Island (top), Imperial Hotel and Casino (bottom left), Rason Hotel (bottom right)
Country  North Korea
Region Kwanbuk
Area
 • Total 746 km2 (288 sq mi)
Elevation 27 m (89 ft)
Population (2008)[1]
 • Total 196,954
 • Density 275/km2 (710/sq mi)
 • Dialect Hamgyŏng

Rason (formerly Rajin-Sŏnbong; Korean pronunciation: [ɾa.sʌn, ɾa.dʑin.sʌn.boŋ]) is a North Korean city and ice-free port[2] 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", (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.[3] 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.[4] What this means in practice is unclear.

Rason borders Hunchun county in Jilin province of China and Khasansky District in Primorsky Krai of Russia.[2] China is making investments in the port as it gives it access to the Sea of Japan.[2][5] 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.[6] Coal is shipped from nearby Chinese mines to Shanghai.[2] A casino by the sea caters to Chinese visitors.[7]

Rason in 2007

Geography

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)		 4.4
(39.9)		 11.4
(52.5)		 16.1
(61)		 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)		 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
(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)		 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
(0.24)		 8
(0.31)		 21
(0.83)		 30
(1.18)		 71
(2.8)		 101
(3.98)		 116
(4.57)		 196
(7.72)		 114
(4.49)		 55
(2.17)		 24
(0.94)		 10
(0.39)		 752
(29.62)
Source: Climate-Data.org [8]

Administrative divisions

Rason is divided into one district (kuyŏk) and one county (kun).[9]

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)

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 has leased a dock for 10 years at the port.[10]

Transport

Rail

Rajin Station is on the Pyongra Line.

See also

References

  1. ↑ DPR Korean Central Bureau of Statistics: 2008 Population Census (Population 2008, published in 2009)
  2. 1 2 3 4 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Rasun Becomes Special City". Daily NK. 5 January 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Strategic Implications of China's Access to the Rajin Port". The Jamestown Foundation. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011.
  6. ↑ "DPRK allows China domestic trade cargo to ship via its port". China Daily. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Climate: Rason". Climate-Data.org. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "라선시 - 북한지명사전". North Korea Net. JoongAng Ilbo. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "China leases Rason port for 10 years". North Korean Economy Watch. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.

Further reading

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

Coordinates: 42°20′40″N 130°23′04″E / 42.34444°N 130.38444°E / 42.34444; 130.38444

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