Russia and North Korea Connect First Road Bridge Ahead of Summer Opening

Russia and North Korea held a ceremony on April 21 to mark the joining of the first road bridge connecting the two countries.

The bridge is set to open for traffic this summer, according to Moscow's foreign ministry.

The bridge crosses the Tumen river, which forms the border between Russia and North Korea.

It will be capable of handling up to 300 vehicles and 2,850 people daily, as stated by Russia's transport ministry.

This infrastructure development comes amid deepening ties between the two heavily sanctioned countries.

Russia and North Korea have expanded economic, political, cultural, and military cooperation, including a 2024 defence treaty that commits to mutual military support.

North Korea deployed thousands of troops to Russia in 2024 to support its war effort in Ukraine, with forces stationed in the western Kursk region.

Several senior Russian officials, including the interior minister, have recently visited North Korea.

Moscow's foreign ministry described the bridge as a landmark stage in Russian-Korean relations, emphasizing its significance beyond engineering.

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