Russia, North Korea Open First Road Link Between Countries
Russia and North Korea have opened their first direct road link, with Moscow saying the new bridge will help expand trade and economic cooperation. The crossing also offers a new route for tourism between the two countries.
Russia and North Korea open their first direct road bridge over the Tumen River, linking Khasan and Tumangang. Photo: TASS
September 7, 2026 Hour: 11:44 pm
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The new bridge over the Tumen River is expected to expand trade and tourism between the two countries.
Russia and North Korea have opened their first direct road link, creating a new crossing over the Tumen River that Moscow says will strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
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The newly built bridge connects Khasan in Russia’s Far East with Tumangang in North Korea and opened to traffic on Monday. The crossing is located near the Friendship Bridge, a railway link between the two countries that opened in 1959 after the Korean War.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the new road would bring the two countries closer and create opportunities to expand commercial ties, particularly for Russia’s Far Eastern regions.
“This is the first direct road link that will bind Russia and the DPRK even closer and provide excellent opportunities to boost trade and economic cooperation, primarily for Russia’s Far Eastern regions,” Mishustin said at a meeting with his deputies.
The bridge is just over 1 kilometer long, stretching 424 meters on the Russian side and 581 meters on the North Korean side. The crossing can accommodate up to 300 vehicles a day, according to Russian authorities.
Mishustin said the expansion of cross-border transport infrastructure would also support cooperation in scientific, technological and cultural fields. The two countries already have direct air and rail connections between Moscow and Pyongyang, but the new road link is expected to facilitate greater trade and tourism.
A project agreed by Putin and Kim
The bridge was built as a joint project after Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to its construction during the Russian president’s visit to Pyongyang in 2024. Work began in April last year.
The bridge has been named after Yakov Novichenko, a Red Army officer who saved Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, during a 1946 grenade attack.
Mishustin said relations between Russia and North Korea were at an “unprecedented” level of strategic partnership, with the two countries cooperating across a range of areas and coordinating efforts on regional security and stability.
The new road crossing comes as Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened their strategic ties. During Putin’s 2024 visit to North Korea, the two leaders signed an agreement that included a mutual-defense clause in the event of aggression.
Russia and North Korea share about 20 kilometers of border. The new bridge adds a road connection to the existing rail link and direct air routes between the two countries.
Author: MK
Source: TASS / Agencies
