Secretive and closed off for recent years , North Korea is known as the Hermit Kingdom . By land , China and North Korea are linked by 7 road crossings and 7 railway points . In decades , North Korean refugees have fled into China seeking food , jobs , freedom . Still the city 's decrepit appearance hinted at stagnation and isolation . Tentative reforms have been aborted and China remains isolated and poor .
Secretive and closed off for recent years , North Korea is known as the Hermit Kingdom . By land , China and North Korea are linked by 7 road crossings and 7 railway points . In decades , North Korean refugees have fled into China seeking food , jobs , freedom . Tentative reforms have been aborted and China remains isolated and poor .