It’s not militarized but i’m not sure i would go so far as to say it’s unguarded. It’s not like the EU where you can just cross over, there are still border crossings with controls like between any two normal countries. Also, if you do cross over into China without a visa you are probably just going to get sent back.
But as a DPRK citizen you can get a work permit to go work in China and there are a fair number of them in northeastern China working in Korean restaurants.
Cfgaussian is correct on this at least as of 9 months ago as of posting this comment. One of the locals in the video reminisces that it used to be very uncontrolled but is not like that anymore.
From what i understand the border has been closed much longer than just since 2020. Apparently this goes back several decades. Just because when i hear people who live on the border talk about the time when it used to be very open they are usually talking about like the 70s or 80s.
It’s not militarized but i’m not sure i would go so far as to say it’s unguarded. It’s not like the EU where you can just cross over, there are still border crossings with controls like between any two normal countries. Also, if you do cross over into China without a visa you are probably just going to get sent back.
But as a DPRK citizen you can get a work permit to go work in China and there are a fair number of them in northeastern China working in Korean restaurants.
I’m basing my perception on testimony from Kim Ryeon Hui, a DPRK citizen held captive by occupied Korea.
Granted, she’s talking about the border circa 1994
https://tankie.tube/w/41yLH9C4Z9JjtM6uvf5EjB?start=24m53s ↩︎
That might have been the case in '94. Pretty sure you can’t do that today.
I would also guess that border security was (rightfully) tightened during the covid-19 pandemic
Hey comrade, this channel did a pretty good tourist explore from the Chinese side of the border.
Where CHINA meets NORTH KOREA 🇨🇳🇰🇵 I S2, EP96
Cfgaussian is correct on this at least as of 9 months ago as of posting this comment. One of the locals in the video reminisces that it used to be very uncontrolled but is not like that anymore.
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
From what i understand the border has been closed much longer than just since 2020. Apparently this goes back several decades. Just because when i hear people who live on the border talk about the time when it used to be very open they are usually talking about like the 70s or 80s.