China–North Korea border

China–North Korea border

Inscription stone marking the border of China and North Korea in Jilin
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	中朝邊境
Simplified Chinese	中朝边境
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōng–Cháo Biānjìng
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	조선민주주의인민공화국-중화인민공화국 국경
Hancha	朝鮮民主主義人民共和國·中華人民共和國 國境
Revised Romanization	Joseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwaguk – Junghwa Inmin Gonghwaguk Gukgyeong
McCune–Reischauer	Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk – Chunghwa Inmin Konghwaguk Kukkyŏng

The China–North Korea border is the international border separating China and North Korea.

The border is 1,420 kilometres (880 mi) long. From west to east, the Yalu River,Paektu Mountain, and the Tumen River divide the two countries.

Dandong, in the Liaoning Province of China, on the Yalu River delta, is the largest city on the border. On the other side of the river is the city of Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province, North Korea. The two cities are situated on the Yalu river delta at the western end of the border, near the Yellow Sea. Their waterfronts face each other and are connected by the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge.

There are 205 islands on the Yalu. A 1962 border treaty between North Korea and China split the islands according to which ethnic group were living on each island. North Korea possesses 127 and China 78. Due to the division criteria, some islands such as Hwanggumpyong Island belong to North Korea but abut the Chinese side of the river. Both countries have navigation rights on the river, including in the delta.

The source of the Yalu is Heaven Lake on Paektu Mountain, which is considered the birthplace of the Korean and Manchu peoples. This lake is also the source of the Tumen River which forms the eastern portion of the border.

There is a significant number of ethnic Koreans living on the Chinese side of the border, particularly in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.

Its border with China has been described as North Korea's "lifeline to the outside world." Much of the China-North Korea trade goes through the port of Dandong.