Russia and North Korea open first road bridge across shared border
Russia and North Korea opened their first road bridge on 7 September 2026, adding a new transport connection as bilateral relations deepen.
In short
- Russia and North Korea opened their first road bridge on 7 September 2026, adding a new transport connection as bilateral relations deepen.
Russia and North Korea opened their first cross-border road bridge on 7 September 2026, adding a vehicle connection to the rail and air services already linking the two countries.
The crossing spans the Tumen River. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song joined the inauguration remotely, according to TASS. Mishustin presented the project as a way to expand economic and other cooperation.
The Russian government said the one-kilometre, two-lane bridge and its new border crossing could handle up to 300 vehicles daily, the Associated Press reported. That figure describes the stated capacity, rather than traffic already recorded.
The opening follows a construction agreement reached in 2024. It comes as Moscow and Pyongyang deepen relations during Russia’s war in Ukraine, giving the new transport link significance beyond civilian travel.
