A woman walks on the North Korean side of the border fence in the town of Hyesan, seen from across the border in Changbai.

A view of the town of Hyesan, North Korea, seen from across the border, formed by the frozen Yalu River, in Changbai.

A woman walks on the North Korean side of the border fence in the town of Hyesan, seen from across the border in Changbai.

A soldier walks on the North Korean side of the border fence in the town of Hyesan, seen from across the border in Changbai.

A view of the town of Hyesan, North Korea, seen from across the border, formed by the frozen Yalu River, in Changbai.

A barbed wire fence running along the border crossing in the town of Changbai on China's border with North Korea.

A woman walks past construction cranes in the town of Changbai on China's border with North Korea.

Eternal President Kim Il-sung and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il (right) look out towards the border with China from the town of Hyesan in North Korea, seen from across the border in Changbai.

Eternal President Kim Il-sung and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il (right) look out towards the border with China from the town of Hyesan in North Korea, seen from across the border in Changbai.

A view of the border crossing in Changbai, on China's side of the frontier with North Korea.

A view of the town of Hyesan, North Korea, seen from across the border in Changbai.

A soldier, stands and looks on as women wash clothes through a hole broken through the frozen surface of the Yalu River in Hyesan, North Korea, seen from across the border in Changbai.

A soldier in the town of Hyesan, North Korea, seen from across the border in Changbai.

Women, overseen by a soldier, wash clothes through a hole broken through the frozen surface of the Yalu River in Hyesan, North Korea, seen from across the border in Changbai.

A view of the town of Hyesan, North Korea, seen from across the border, formed by the frozen Yalu River, in Changbai.