The new bridge linking Russia and North Korea: trade route or military corridor?

Russia and North Korea have opened their first road bridge across their shared border, adding a new physical link to a relationship that has grown markedly closer since the war in Ukraine began.

The one-kilometer bridge crosses the Tumen River between the Russian town of Khasan and North Korea’s Tumangang, in a remote, sparsely populated area near the countries’ coasts. The opening ceremony took place by video link on Monday, after which vehicle convoys crossed from both sides.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin presented the crossing as an engine for civilian development. “I am convinced that expanding cross-border transport infrastructure will give a strong boost to the further development of trade, the economy, science, technology and cultural cooperation,” he said. He also said the bridge would support tourism and create new jobs.

The structure carries the name of Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet officer credited with saving North Korean founder Kim Il Sung from an assassination attempt organized by a pro-South Korean group. Russia and North Korea already have a railway bridge over the Tumen River and regular flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang.

But the new crossing has also prompted security concerns. Ukrainian human rights organizations fear it could become a discreet military logistics route. Truth Hounds described it as a possible future passage for North Korean troops, construction brigades and military officials traveling to Russia, while Russian technology and resources could move in the opposite direction with less risk of detection. The two countries’ ties have intensified since 2022. North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia’s Kursk region to help Moscow repel a Ukrainian attack in 2024, while South Korea’s intelligence service has said Russia reportedly provided Pyongyang with air-defense missiles, electronic-warfare equipment, drones and spy-satellite technology. Officials have also promoted North Korea as a tourist destination for Russians since its borders reopened in 2024.

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I am convinced that expanding cross-border transport infrastructure will give a strong boost to the further development of trade, the economy, science, technology and cultural cooperation.