Discussion at the Ungsang Farm in Sonbong about cooperation in organic agriculture

In January 2010 Dr. Bernhard Seliger, resident represenative of Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea, and Ms. Sarah Kohls, researcher in HSS Korea, came to Rason Special Economic Zone to talk about possible cooperation in agricultural development, in particular in organic agriculture. There, they visited grain and livestock farms and the International Catholic Hospital and discussed cooperation with the Rason Economic Cooperation Office.

The special zone in Rason was already designed in 1991, but had few success in attracting foreign investment despite a Chinese casino, which already in 2004 had to close again due to Chinese pressure. This year the status of Rason was elevated to “special city” and the leadership of North Korea again stressed the importance of international economic cooperation. The zone is located at the Southern bank of the Tumen river at the border to China and Russia, where since the early 1990s the UN sponsored Greater Tumen Initiative tries to organize cooperation of the Northeast Asian countries, until now with few success.

Visit to the Rason International Catholic Hospital

Farm Landscape near the Tumen River at the Sino-Korean border