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 northeast area of China has fertile farmland and mountainous areas including high mountain range linked with Mt. Paektu of Korea. It produces tens of millions of tons of grain annually. It is the world's leading producer of bean. This region abounds in timber of great economic value and has hundreds of species of medical plants. It is rich in underground resources and has more than a hundred kinds of metal ores.

The Fareast region of Russia close to Rason City borders on northeast part of Mongolia and faces China with Amur River (Heilongjiang) and Ussuri River in between. As most of its territory is covered with mountains, the region is rich in forest resources and oil, natural gas, tin, lead and zinc and other underground resources.

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 area will be a friendly economic and trade zone conducive to economic development, traffic and transport and welfare of the peoples of the two countries of DPRK and China. It will also promote the economic development in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world.

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.