| Rason | |
| Native Name Lang: | ko |
| Settlement Type: | Special city |
| Official Name: | Rason Special City |
| Translit Lang1: | Korean |
| Translit Lang1 Type: | Chosŏn'gŭl |
| Translit Lang1 Info: | Korean: 라선특별시 |
| Translit Lang1 Type1: | Hancha |
| Translit Lang1 Info1: | Korean: {{linktext|羅|先|特|別|市 |
| Translit Lang1 Info2: | Rasŏn T'ŭkpyŏlsi |
| Translit Lang1 Info3: | Raseon Teukbyeolsi |
| Image Map1: | Rason Map 2020.png |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kwanbuk |
| Leader Party: | WPK |
| Leader Title: | Party Committee Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Rim Kyong-man[1] |
| Leader Title2: | People's Committee Chairman |
| Leader Name2: | Cho Chong-ho |
| Area Total Km2: | 746 |
| Elevation M: | 27 |
| Population As Of: | 2019 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 205000 |
| Population Density Km2: | 275 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Dialect |
| Population Blank1: | Hamgyŏng |
| Timezone: | Pyongyang Time |
| Utc Offset: | +9 |
Rason (formerly Rajin-Sŏnbong; pronounced as /ko/) is a North Korean special 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.
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 fell under the control of 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 is divided into two district (kuyŏk).[10]
Rason has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dwb).
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.[11]
This port may also be known as the Port of Rajin[12] .
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]
Rajin Oil Refinery is the largest oil refinery in North Korea. Although North Korea itself lacks oil wells, they can and do import oil from other countries to supply their refineries. Large oil tankers are spotted multiple times unloading at the Rajin port.[14]
Rason has a number of mineral resources within the locality, including coal, iron, magnesite, and clay.[15]
Rason is home to No 28 Shipyard Najin, a shipbuilder and supplier to the Korean People's Navy.
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.
The Tumen River Bridge connects between Hunchun and Rason.
Hunchun, Jilin, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, People's Republic of China.[16]