SEOUL, September 8 (AJP) - A new road bridge across the Tumen River now connects North Korea and Russia, signaling a deepening economic and strategic partnership between the two countries.
The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday that the motor bridge's opening ceremony was held simultaneously the previous day in North Korea's northeastern city of Rason and Russia's Khasan in Primorsky Krai, with North Korean premier Pak Thae-song and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin attending the event virtually from Pyongyang and Moscow, respectively.
The bridge, which stretches about 5 kilometers, was part of projects agreed upon during a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang in June 2024. Construction began the following year, and the bridge was completed in about 495 days.
Named after Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet army officer who KCNA says saved the life of North Korea's regime founder Kim Il-sung in 1946, the bridge has two lanes, allowing vehicles to travel in both directions. Until now, the only land route between the two countries was a railway bridge over the Tumen River.
KCNA called the new bridge a symbol of growing friendship, saying it would facilitate trade and help boost tourism and exchanges between the two countries.
Pak said the bridge would provide fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation, while Mishustin said the two countries would continue working together for what he described as an "unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership."
The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday that the motor bridge's opening ceremony was held simultaneously the previous day in North Korea's northeastern city of Rason and Russia's Khasan in Primorsky Krai, with North Korean premier Pak Thae-song and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin attending the event virtually from Pyongyang and Moscow, respectively.
The bridge, which stretches about 5 kilometers, was part of projects agreed upon during a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang in June 2024. Construction began the following year, and the bridge was completed in about 495 days.
Named after Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet army officer who KCNA says saved the life of North Korea's regime founder Kim Il-sung in 1946, the bridge has two lanes, allowing vehicles to travel in both directions. Until now, the only land route between the two countries was a railway bridge over the Tumen River.
KCNA called the new bridge a symbol of growing friendship, saying it would facilitate trade and help boost tourism and exchanges between the two countries.
Pak said the bridge would provide fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation, while Mishustin said the two countries would continue working together for what he described as an "unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership."
The Unification Ministry here said it is closely monitoring developments, as the opening of the new bridge could further increase cross-border trade and exchanges amid North Korea's growing military ties with Russia following its deployment of troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine.
AJP Takeaways
- North Korea and Russia opened a new 5-kilometer road bridge across the Tumen River on Sept. 7, 2026, creating the first road connection between the two countries and adding to their existing railway link.
- The new Yakov Novichenko Bridge is designed to increase North Korea-Russia trade, tourism and cross-border exchanges, with two lanes allowing vehicles to travel in both directions between Rason, North Korea, and Khasan, Russia.
- The bridge opening underscores the deepening strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia, following the June 2024 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin and amid growing military cooperation linked to Russia's war in Ukraine.
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