Yalu River
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Real Identity: Amnok River
Affiliation(s): China and Korea
Other Names: Yalu River, MiG Alley
The Amnok River basin gave rise to the Korean empire, Goguryeo. Its strategic location continued to be valued into the 20th Century. The Chinese named it "Yalu." In Manchurian, it loosely translates into "the boundary between two fields."
When Japan was in possession of the area from 1901-1945, it was used for 20% of Japan's industry output. During the Korean War, the western section of the river was the center of numerous jet dogfights so much that it was nicknamed "MiG Alley," after the communist MiG fighter jets. On the day of armistice, Colonel Ace Morgan and Airman Hal Jordan were attacked by two MiG's near Yalu River. Jordan was forced to parachute and killed a North Korean soldier stationed there.