North Korea and China hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on June 8 for the launch of the joint development project in Hwanggumpyong Island near the DPRK-China border. On the next day， the launching ceremony for the Rason Economic and Trade Zone took place.
The KCNA reported on April 27 that the modernization projects for the Rajin， Sonbong， and Ungsang Ports are to take place. According to the report， “These three ports in Rason City have the geographical advantage for maritime transportation. . . . Rajin Port， surrounded by Daecho and Socho Islands， is an ideal harbor that provides security and excellent marine conditions for docking ships.”