New Tumen River link signals deepening economic and strategic ties…reports Asian Lite News Desk
North Korea and Russia have opened their first cross-border road bridge, linking the two countries across the Tumen River as their strategic and economic ties continue to deepen.
The opening ceremony was held on Monday in North Korea’s Rason and Russia’s Khasan, with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin attending virtually, state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Construction of the bridge began in April last year following a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang in June 2024.
According to KCNA, the new crossing will facilitate the safe movement of vehicles and people, while strengthening infrastructure for economic cooperation, tourism, human exchanges and trade between the two countries.
Pak described the bridge as a “new symbol” of bilateral friendship and said it would inject fresh momentum into cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Mishustin said relations between Russia and North Korea had reached an “unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership”, adding that Moscow would continue efforts to expand multifaceted bilateral cooperation.
The bridge has been named after Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet Red Army officer credited with saving the life of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung in 1946.
Until now, the only direct crossing between the two countries was a rail bridge over the Tumen River. The new road link marks a significant expansion of cross-border connectivity.
The development comes amid growing alignment between Pyongyang and Moscow, particularly following North Korea’s troop deployment in support of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The expanding infrastructure links have also raised concerns that closer economic and transport connectivity could further strengthen military cooperation between the two countries, Yonhap reported.
