evidence: Based on the landscape connectivity analysis, two possible routes were estimated as having a high probability of water deer dispersal from the North Korean populations to the newly occupied region, and at the same time, no barriers could be observed between the two suitable areas in North Korea. The newly colonized region in the lower Tumen area was next to important protected areas, namely the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, the Khasansky provincial nature park and the Land of the Leopard National Park in Russia. In North Korea, protected areas may also play an important role in the dispersal of wildlife, such as the Suryong Mountain Animal Reserve (수룡산동물보후구) located in the Tosan county of North Hwanghae Province, which can connect the two suitable habitat patches region NK2 and region NK3. Along the predicted route B, protected areas such as Daeheung Animal Reserve (대흥동물보호구) and Donggye animal reserve (동계동물보호구) are present in Ryanggang Province, and Gwanmobong nature reserve (관모봉자연보호구) forest area in North Hamyeong province.