Russia and North Korea open first road bridge across their shared border

Russia and North Korea have opened their first road bridge across their shared border, a project Russian officials presented as a step toward closer ties.

The bridge over the Tumen River is one kilometre long and has two traffic lanes. Russia’s government said the newly built border crossing will allow up to 300 trucks to pass each day.

“I am convinced that expanding transport infrastructure near the border will give a strong boost to the further development of trade, economic, technological, scientific and cultural cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.

The two countries are already linked by a railway bridge and an air route. Their relations and exchange programs have expanded in recent years, while North Korea has supplied ammunition and sent soldiers to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. North Korea has also accepted Russian tourists again since February 2024, following a gradual easing of pandemic restrictions.

Russia and North Korea agreed in 2024 to build the road bridge over the Tumen River, which runs along North Korea’s borders with Russia and China. Construction began last year.

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I am convinced that expanding transport infrastructure near the border will give a strong boost to the further development of trade, economic, technological, scientific and cultural cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.