The province is bordered by China (Jilin) to the north, South Hamgyong to the southwest and Ryanggang to the west.

The province is home to the Musudan-ri rocket launching site and the Hoeryong concentration camp.

[3] The majority of North Korean defectors who live in South Korea came from the province after crossing the relatively shallow Tumen River into China.

Therefore, the conditions of the province, which analyst Fyodor Tertitskiy has described as "not only a very grim, but also a very boring place," tend to be projected onto the whole country, even though they are not representative.

[5] These are further divided into villages (ri) in rural areas and dong (neighborhoods) in cities.