Asia · neighbouring countries

Neighboring Countries of North Korea

Q: Which is the longest border of North Korea?

The longest land border of North Korea is with China (1,352 km); the shortest is with Russia (18 km).

Q: How long are the land borders of North Korea?

The land borders of North Korea total 1,607 km. By number of neighbours North Korea ranks #87 among 236 countries and territories.

North Korea shares land borders with 3 countries: China (1,352 km), South Korea (237 km) and Russia (18 km).

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Country

Neighbouring countries (#87 of 236)

1,607 km

Total land borders

2,495 km

Coastline

120,538

Area in km²

North Korea
Neighbouring countries
Neighbours of neighbours

Countries bordering North Korea

Neighbour	Border length	Capital	Visa for North Korea citizens
China	1,352 km	Beijing	Visa required
South Korea	237 km	Seoul	eVisa
Russia	18 km	Moscow	eVisa · 30 days

China accounts for 84% of North Korea's 1,607 km of land borders. Lengths: CIA World Factbook (public domain).

Geography of North Korea

Location

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Area

120,538 km² — slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi

Terrain

Mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east

Climate

Temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters

Highest and lowest points

Highest: Paektu-san 2,744 m. Lowest: Sea of Japan 0 m. Mean elevation: 600 m.

Natural resources

Coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower

Natural hazards

Late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall volcanism: P'aektu-san (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or Changbaishan), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active

Good to know

Strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

Neighbours of North Korea's neighbours

Countries one border further away — reachable overland through a neighbouring country.

Also with 3 neighbours in Asia

Frequently asked questions about the borders of North Korea

How many countries border North Korea?

North Korea shares land borders with 3 countries: China (1,352 km), South Korea (237 km) and Russia (18 km).

Which is the longest border of North Korea?

The longest land border of North Korea is with China (1,352 km); the shortest is with Russia (18 km).

Is North Korea landlocked?

No. North Korea has 2,495 km of coastline.

How long are the land borders of North Korea?

The land borders of North Korea total 1,607 km. By number of neighbours North Korea ranks #87 among 236 countries and territories.

Do North Korea citizens need a visa for neighbouring countries?

North Korea citizens need a visa or travel authorisation for all neighbouring countries — see the table on this page.

What is the highest point of North Korea?

Paektu-san 2,744 m. The lowest point is Sea of Japan 0 m.

Borders and geography: CIA World Factbook (public domain). Visa rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0).