- North Korea is entirely shrouded on Google Maps – but some parts just outside its border aren’t.
- The country has a short border with Russia, which Kim Jong Un crossed in April 2019 to meet Vladimir Putin.
- Parts of Linenaya Ulitsa, a Russian road bordering North Korea, is available on Google Street View.
- Take a peek into North Korea through these photos taken along the road.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
North Korea is arguably the most secretive nation in the world.
It shares long borders with China to its north, and also with South Korea. But the third, and by far the shortest, frontier is an 11-mile stretch of land it shares with Russia.
Unlike the Chinese border, the Russian one has allowed access to Google’s camera cars, which can come pretty close to the Korea Russia Friendship Bridge (“Druzhny Bridge” in Russia), a rail link between the two nations.
Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, likely crossed this bridge during his train journey to eastern Russia this week, where he will meet President Vladimir Putin for the first time.
Peek into North Korea from Linenaya Ulitsa, a road along its border with Russia, through these photos:
North Korea is notoriously secretive and hidden from Google Maps' Street View function — all the areas not in blue can't be accessed on the service.
The regions of Primorsky, Russia, and Josan-ri, North Korea, are divided by the Tumen River, a 320-mile long river along North Korea's border with China and Russia.
There's Google Maps imagery up to the tip of Linenaya Ulitsa, a road that stops just before the river.
Tourists in Yanbian, a Chinese prefecture that borders both North Korea and Russia, can peer into North Korea at a designated observation point, where you can see the Druzhny Bridge.
Welcome to Linenaya Ulitsa (ulitsa means "street" in Russian). According to these July 2013 photos, there isn't much activity around here — mainly a lot of greenery.
Across the grass, you can see a bit of the Tumen River, which snakes around the northern North Korea, and borders China and Russia. This is the closest we can get to North Korea from Russia on Google Maps.
Most North Korean refugees try to escape into China via this shallow and narrow body of water, according to the Financial Times.
In the distance of this photo is also tall tower with a multi-tiered roof with upturned eaves - an architecture style common in ancient China, Korea, and Japan. To its left is a shorter building, which looks like a control tower.
Keep going along Linenaya Ulitsa, and you'll see a gateway and a small hut.
Beyond the gate is a deserted lane, with some greenery concealing a few houses.
At the end of the lane lies a lone, small house, which appears to pave the way to more greenery. Google Street View imagery stops past this point.
The house overlooks utility poles and some more trees, which eventually lead to the Tumen River and eventually, North Korea.
All of this might look slightly different now, however - footage that emerged in April 2017 showed Russia sending tanks, troops, and at least three trainloads of military equipment to this region.
Source: Daily Mail
Linenaya Ulitsa is the closest we can get to the Druzhny Bridge, which straddles Russia and North Korea. This 2003 photo shows it up close.
The Druzhny Bridge is reportedly closed off to tourists, but an Austrian travel blogger said he and his friend snuck onto it and entered North Korea's Tumangang station in September 2008.
He said they were worried about their fate upon arriving at North Korea, but luckily didn't run into any problems.
Source: Vienna - Pyongyang blog
On Wednesday, Kim Jong Un took his family's armored train and traveled to Russia for the first time. He will meet Putin in the southeastern port city of Vladivostok on Thursday.
Kim told Russian government officials, according to The Associated Press: "I have heard a lot about your country and have long dreamt of visiting it."
"It's been seven years since I took the helm, and I've only just managed to visit," he added.
He was presented with bread and salt in a tray upon arrival — a traditional welcome for an honored guest.
Kim said he hopes for a "successful and useful" visit in Russia, and is widely expected to court broader Russian investment and diplomatic ties with North Korea.
