North Korea and Russia Open First Road Bridge Amidst Global Developments
North Korea and Russia have officially opened their first road bridge across the Tumen River, connecting Rason and Khasan to boost trade, transport infrastructure, and bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
Newsnibs Staff
- 2026-09-08
- Updated 7:04 PM UTC
North Korea and Russia have opened their first road bridge across their shared border over the Tumen River. The one-kilometer crossing links the North Korean city of Rason with the Russian city of Khasan.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song attended the inauguration ceremony via video link as flag-adorned trucks crossed the span. While several news outlets reported the ceremony took place on Monday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported it occurred on September 7.
Mishustin called the bridge a "genuinely historic event" and a "new symbol of friendship." He stated he was "convinced that the expansion of transport infrastructure near the border will give a powerful boost to the further development of trade, economic, technological, scientific and cultural cooperation" between both countries. North Korean state media quoted Pak describing the structure as "a significant event adding a new dynamic movement to the overall bilateral cooperation."
The two-lane road is designed to accommodate up to 300 vehicles daily. It replaces a temporary arrangement used since 1959, in which wooden planks were laid over a nearby rail bridge to permit vehicle traffic.
The new route connects directly to Russia's federal highway network, linking into the transport corridor between Vladivostok and St. Petersburg alongside existing rail and air connections. Construction began in April 2025, following an agreement reached during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in 2024. North Korea has been receiving Russian tourists since February 2024.
Photo by LISK OBE on Unsplash