North Korea calls Russia bridge a sign of tighter ties

North Korea has presented its first road bridge across the border with Russia as a tangible sign that the two countries’ relationship is tightening. The bridge crosses the Tumen River and is designed to handle up to 300 vehicles a day, adding a road connection to existing rail and air links.

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will simultaneously secure two major overland routes linking it with Russia and China, allowing it to encourage competition between the two countries and maximise its gains

The opening ceremony took place on Monday as Pyongyang strengthens ties with Moscow and Beijing. An additional bridge to China is under construction, creating the prospect of two major overland routes linking North Korea with its powerful neighbours.

That network could give North Korea economic and strategic choices it has long sought, experts said. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University, said the routes would allow Pyongyang to encourage competition between Russia and China and maximise its gains. He also said the bridges could signal to the United States that North Korea has no need to seek sanctions relief or make concessions on denuclearisation to negotiate.

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can be a message to the United States that North Korea has no reason to beg Washington for sanctions relief or make concessions on denuclearisation in order to negotiate

The bridge has also raised security concerns. Ukrainian rights group Truth Hounds previously warned that it could become “a direct artery for moving North Korean troops, construction brigades and military officials into Russia, with Russian technology and resources flowing in the opposite direction”. Military ties have grown sharply since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022. North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia in 2024 to help repel a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region, while Kyiv has accused Moscow of using North Korean missiles in regular attacks.

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a direct artery for moving North Korean troops, construction brigades and military officials into Russia, with Russian technology and resources flowing in the opposite direction

North Korean official Pak Thae Song called the bridge’s completion “a significant event adding a new dynamic movement to the overall bilateral cooperation”, according to the official KCNA news agency. South Korea’s central bank has said expanded economic cooperation with Russia helped drive North Korea’s growth of more than 3% for a third consecutive year in 2025.

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the completion of the bridge is a significant event adding a new dynamic movement to the overall bilateral cooperation