The DPRK / China border is soft. Travel backwards and forwards over it happens every day with trade going back and forth. There is no need to go through some obscure Qatar exchange to get out of the DPRK.
But the 1,420 km (880 mile) long border with China is a real challenge.
Just like many reporters, I've visited places on it before, and got a few pictures here and there. But this time we did what I had always wanted - we drove from its south to its north end. In eight days we drove through mile after mile of nothing, guarded by no-one.
Nothing guarded by nobody is actually a wonderful story, especially if you are in the mood to really look.
The DPRK / China border is soft. Travel backwards and forwards over it happens every day with trade going back and forth. There is no need to go through some obscure Qatar exchange to get out of the DPRK.
Lib article: https://widerimage.reuters.com/story/a-road-trip-on-the-edge-of-north-korea