About 80 miles from Vladivostok, its 11-mile land border with Russia is the shortest of that country’s 14 neighbors
On February 4, 2025, Jeopardy! presented a geography-based Final Jeopardy clue in the category “Countries of the World”:
“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 land borders with only two countries: China and Russia. While its border with China stretches for roughly 880 miles, its connection to Russia is significantly smaller, extending just 11 miles (17.5 kilometers) along the Tumen River. This makes it Russia’s shortest land border, among its 14 neighboring countries.
This narrow land boundary is located in the far northeastern part of North Korea, near the town of Tumangang, which serves as an important rail link between the two countries. The only crossing between Russia and North Korea is the Friendship Bridge, a railway bridge spanning the Tumen River, facilitating trade and limited transportation between the nations.
Russia’s Borders: The Largest in the World
Russia has the longest land border of any country in the world, stretching over 12,500 miles (20,000 kilometers). It shares boundaries with 14 countries, including major neighbors like China, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine, as well as smaller borders with countries such as Norway, Estonia, and North Korea.
Despite the small size of the Russia-North Korea border, it plays a strategic role in diplomacy and trade. Over the years, Russia has maintained economic and political ties with North Korea, particularly as international sanctions have restricted North Korea’s trade with other countries.
The Geographic Proximity to Vladivostok
Vladivostok, Russia’s major port city on the Pacific Ocean, lies just 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of North Korea. This proximity highlights the significance of the Russia-North Korea border, even though it is small in size. While direct road connections between Vladivostok and North Korea are limited, the railway line between the two nations allows for limited economic exchange, particularly in energy supplies and labor agreements.
While China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner, Russia has been involved in providing energy resources and food assistance to North Korea, particularly during periods of heightened sanctions from Western nations. The small but strategic border helps maintain this relationship.
North Korea’s small but significant land border with Russia is a key geographic and geopolitical feature. While tiny compared to Russia’s vast frontiers, it plays an important role in trade and diplomacy between the two nations. Given Russia’s global influence and North Korea’s unique political standing, this border—though only 11 miles long—continues to be an area of strategic importance in international relations.