Russia and North Korea open first road bridge across Tumen River
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Russia and North Korea opened the first road bridge between the two countries across the Tumen River, connecting Primorsky Krai with North Korean territory. The bridge, built next to the existing railway 'Friendship Bridge' operating since 1959, was opened via video link by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song. The new crossing includes the completed Khasan checkpoint with ten lanes and a capacity of up to 300 vehicles.
Key Facts
- The bridge is the first road crossing between Russia and North Korea, built next to the railway 'Friendship Bridge' that has operated since 1959.
- The Khasan checkpoint, completed alongside the bridge, has ten lanes and a capacity of up to 300 vehicles.
- Construction began in April 2025 following an agreement reached during Vladimir Putin's 2024 visit to North Korea.
- The bridge is 1 kilometer long and named after Yakov Novichenko, a Red Army officer and Hero of Labor of the DPRK who saved Kim Il Sung from an assassination attempt.
Bridge Opening
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song opened the bridge via video link. The bridge crosses the Tumen River, connecting Primorsky Krai with North Korean territory. It is the first road crossing between the two countries, built next to the railway 'Friendship Bridge' that has operated since 1959. The bridge is 1 kilometer long and named after Yakov Novichenko, a Red Army officer and Hero of Labor of the DPRK who saved Kim Il Sung from an assassination attempt. The Russian automobile column that opened traffic on the bridge was led by a red Zaporozhets car that belonged to Novichenko.
Infrastructure and Capacity
The Khasan checkpoint was completed alongside the bridge. The checkpoint has ten lanes and a capacity of up to 300 vehicles. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin noted that the development of border transport infrastructure will create conditions for expanding trade, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural cooperation between Russia and North Korea. The new road crossing is expected to increase transport volumes and give an additional impetus to trade between the two countries.
Construction Timeline
Construction of the bridge began in April 2025. The decision to build it was made after Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in 2024. The bridge is built next to the railway 'Friendship Bridge', which has connected Russia and North Korea since 1959.
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