Rodong Sinmun on Rason Economic and Trade Zone in DPRK

Pyongyang, July 21 (KCNA) -- The Rason Economic and Trade Zone in the DPRK has favorable conditions for becoming a worldwide trade and investment center linking Northeast Asia with Europe and North America. It is linked with China and Russia with River Tuman in between and facing the East Sea of Korea.
Rodong Sinmun Wednesday says this in a bylined article.
It goes on:
Northeast Asia includes Korea, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces of China, the Fareast region of Russia, Mongolia, Japan and others. The region has a population of several hundreds of millions and covers 9 168 000 square kilometers. Countries in the region have favorable conditions for economic cooperation and exchange.
The Rason Economic and Trade Zone is situated in such favorable geographical position that it can link with three provinces in northeast of China, the Fareast region of Russia, Mongolia and other areas which have appeared promising economic and trade regions in Northeast Asia. Ports in the Fareast region of Russia are said to remain frozen in winter. That is why the Rason area can be a favorable transport hub.
The advantages of the area as an economic and trade zone are evidenced by the fact that the DPRK and Russia held a ceremony of rebuilding Rajin-Khasan Railways and Rajin Port in 2008.
The use of this new route would help cut down transport distance from Asia to Europe to dramatically reduce transport expenses.