First direct road bridge linking Russia and North Korea opens

Russia and North Korea have opened a road bridge over the Tumannaya River, marking the first direct road connection between the two countries. The inauguration took place on September 7, with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korean Prime Minister Pak Thae Song attending online.

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unprecedented level

Named after Yakov Novichenko, a Red Army officer and North Korean labour hero, the project stretches almost 5 kilometres including its approaches. The bridge itself is about 1 kilometre long and has two lanes.

The two countries agreed to pursue the project during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea in 2024. Mishustin and Pak Thae Song launched construction in April 2025. The Tumannaya River separates Russia’s Primorsky region from North Korea.

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a truly historic event

Until now, the only transport link across the river was the 600-metre Druzhba railway bridge, which opened in 1959. The new bridge is expected to handle mainly cargo at first. It should become fully operational by the end of this year and may then also carry passengers.

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a new symbol of friendship

Mishustin described Moscow’s relationship with Pyongyang as being at an “unprecedented level” and called the inauguration “a truly historic event.” He said the bridge was not only an engineering project, but also “a new symbol of friendship” between the two countries. The route can handle up to 300 vehicles a day and will connect to Russia’s federal road network, providing access to the transport corridor linking Vladivostok with St. Petersburg.

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I believe that expanding cross-border transport infrastructure will provide a strong impetus for further development of trade, economic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation