Rasŏn

Rason 라선
Directly Govrened Ceety
라선특별시 · Rason Directly Governed City
Korean transcription(s)
• Hancha	羅先特別市
• McCune–Reischauer	Rasŏn T'ŭkpyŏlsi
• Revised Romanization	Naseon Teukbyeolsi
From top left: Pipasom Island, Emperor Hotel and Casino, & Rason Hotel
Kintra	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

Rasŏn (umwhile Rajin-Sŏnbong; Korean pronunciation: [ɾasɔn, ɾadʑin-sɔnboŋ]) is a North Korean ceety in the Kwanbuk region an location o the Rajin-Sonbong Economic Special Zone. In 2000 the name wis shortened frae "Rajin-Sŏnbong" tae "Rasŏn". Frae 1993 tae 2004 wis administered separately frae North Hamgyŏng as the Directly Governed Ceety (Chikhalsi) o Rasŏn. Prior tae 1993 an frae 2004 tae 2009 the ceety haed been pairt o the North Hamgyŏng Province. Syne 2010 the ceety is a "Special Ceety", again breakin frae provincial control but different tae its aulder designation as a "Directly Governed Ceety". It is unclear what this means in practice. Rason borders Jilin province o Cheenae an Primorsky Krai o Roushie. In Sooth Korean pronunciation, the initial "R" o the name is pronoonced as "N," as per staundart Korean phonology.