March 29, 2024
Evergreen

Ojok Island: How To Gatecrash North Korea Without A Visa

Squatting in the Yalu river, Ojok Island is split between Korea and China - it's your best bet for making a visa-free break for the North.

by Nigel Callinan

The Yalu River marks the border between northwest North Korea and the Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Jilin, meandering across the landscape and shifting in width. In some places, it’s no larger than ten metres; in others, it’s over 400. Islands dot its length, with ownership given to whichever side of the river they’re closest to. One unusual case, though, is Ojok Island, a 40 minute drive north of Dandong.

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