North Korea and Russia open first road bridge linking the two countries

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - MOSCOW — In a ‌carefully choreographed display of friendship, North Korea and Russia opened their first road bridge on Monday, allowing the two countries to more easily move cargo and passengers across the Tumen river.

The first flag-adorned trucks trundled across the 1 km long two-lane bridge as Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korea's Premier Pak Thae Song tuned in by video link to address ​workers and government officials from both countries.

Pyongyang state media said the bridge, which both sides cast as an important milestone in their deepening strategic partnership, will be used for "personnel exchanges, tourism and trade".

It comes as relations between both countries have grown since the start of the Ukraine war, with Russia's Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un previously pledging that both countries would help each other in the event of "aggression" against either country.

Mishustin described the bridge as a "new symbol of friendship", while North Korea's Pak Thae Song said it was a "historical event".

Up to 300 vehicles and 2,323 people can cross the bridge daily, according to TASS.

Satellite imagery showed the kilometer-long bridge alongside several new access roads, a border checkpoint, support infrastructure and parking facilities.

There are existing air links, as well as the rail link between the two countries, but until now the only road link was a makeshift solution where, by special arrangement, wooden planks were placed on the rail bridge to allow cars to travel over it, according to Reuters.

The Russian government said the bridge will initially be used to transport cargo, Reuters reported, before opening to passenger traffic later this year.

The bridge would provide a "powerful impetus for the further development of trade, economic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation," said Mishustin.

The most immediate impact may be increased export of weapons to Russia.

Researchers at South Korea's spy agency estimates that North Korea has already transferred $7 to 14 billion dollars' worth of rockets, missiles, and artillery shells using ships. An estimated 11,000 North Korean troops are actively fighting Ukrainians in Russia.

But Ukrainian group Truth Hounds said the bridge is intended "primarily to establish a covert military logistics corridor" to support Russia in the Ukraine war.

Given the strategic partnership treaty between the two countries in 2024, the bridge could be used to transport North Korean military personnel, construction workers and senior military officials directly to Russia, Truth Hounds said in a recent statement.

"It would also enable the flow of Russian technology and resources in the opposite direction," the statement added.

Construction started in 2025, after the agreement to build the bridge was made during Putin's 2024 visit to North Korea, his first trip to the state in 24 years, which resulted in the partnership treaty. The bridge took 495 days to complete, after delays.

Russian tourists have trickled into North Korea since they were allowed in in 2024. North Korea has been hosting them in capital Pyongyang and the beach resorts of Wonsan-Kalma, while continuing to block those from other countries.

The road is also expected to transport North Korean labourers to Russia.

Around 10,000 North Koreans are working in Russia's construction sites and logging camps, according to a South Korean estimate. Although the UN bans countries from using North Korean labour, many enter Russia under the guise of student visas.