About 80 miles from Vladivostok, its 11-mile land border with Russia is the shortest of that country’s 14 neighbors
On the February 4, 2025, episode of Jeopardy!, the Final Jeopardy category was “Countries of the World.” The clue challenged contestants with a question about international borders:
“About 80 miles from Vladivostok, its 11-mile land border with Russia is the shortest of that country’s 14 neighbors.”
What is North Korea?
North Korea shares its northern borders with both China and Russia, but its border with Russia is significantly smaller. The Russia-North Korea border is only 11 miles (17.5 kilometers) long, making it the shortest land border Russia shares with any country. In contrast, North Korea’s border with China extends for about 880 miles (1,420 kilometers), dominating its northern boundary.
This brief land connection between Russia and North Korea is located along the Tumen River, near the point where Russia, China, and North Korea meet. The border area is strategically significant, serving as one of North Korea’s few direct links to the outside world beyond China.
The Importance of Vladivostok in This Clue
Vladivostok, a major Russian port city on the Pacific Ocean, is situated roughly 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of the North Korean border. As the headquarters of the Russian Pacific Fleet, Vladivostok is an important hub for military, trade, and diplomatic interactions between Russia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Given North Korea’s limited international connections, Vladivostok serves as a critical location for economic and political exchanges between the two nations. North Korea and Russia maintain a rail connection at the Friendship Bridge (Korea–Russia Friendship Bridge), which spans the Tumen River and facilitates limited trade between the two countries.
Russia’s Many Neighbors
Russia has the most international borders of any country in the world, sharing land boundaries with 14 nations:
- Norway
- Finland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Poland (via Kaliningrad)
- Belarus
- Ukraine
- Georgia
- Azerbaijan
- Kazakhstan
- China
- Mongolia
- North Korea
Among these, North Korea has the shortest border with Russia, while the longest is shared with Kazakhstan, stretching 4,750 miles (7,644 kilometers).
The Significance of the Russia-North Korea Border
Although short in length, this border plays a role in diplomatic relations between the two nations. North Korea has relied on Russia for fuel, trade, and diplomatic support, particularly when facing economic sanctions. Periodically, high-level meetings have taken place between Russian and North Korean officials to discuss trade and political cooperation.
This small but crucial border represents one of North Korea’s limited gateways to the wider world, making it an important geopolitical link in Northeast Asia.