Khasan

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For the lake of the same name, see Lake Khasan.

Khasan (Russian: Хаса́н) is an urban-type settlement at 42°25′42″N, 130°38′44″E in Khasansky District, Primorsky Krai, Russia. Population: 795 (2002 Census).

A sign at the entrance to Khasan

Khasan is the only Russian settlement on the border with North Korea. It lies near Lake Khasan and the Tumen River. The border between Russia and North Korea is formed by the course of the river, but the Tuman's riverbed sometimes changes during floods, effectively diminishing the territory of Russia and threatening to flood the settlement of Khasan and the Peschanaya border station. Since 2003 works have been in progress to reinforce the area with rocky soil for protection against the pressure of the water.

[edit] Transportation

Khasan is a railway station on the Far East Railway line from Vladivostok to Sonbong. Directly across the river is the North Korean station in Tumangang Workers' District, Sonbong County. This line is currently little used; only 10,000 passengers were carried in 2005.^[1] The Korean portion from Tumangang to the port of Rajin was destroyed in the 1950s.

The railroad departments of Russia and North and South Korea are working on the question of opening a Trans-Korean Railroad with a connection to the Trans-Siberial Railroad. The 25-million dollar project is moving slowly. A pilot project for the beginning of transportation over the 40-km Khasan-Rajin section is planned for 2006.^[2]