Russia and North Korea open first road bridge between the two countries
Russia and North Korea have opened traffic on their first road bridge, built across the border river Tumen. Until now, land connection between the two states relied solely on a railway bridge.
Russia and North Korea have opened traffic on the first-ever road bridge linking the two countries, according to Radio Svoboda as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
The opening ceremony was held via video link and involved Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song.
Bridge details
The new bridge is roughly one kilometer long and spans the border river Tumen (Tumangan). Traffic is currently organized in two lanes.
Until this point, overland connection between Russia and North Korea existed only via a railway crossing known as the Friendship Bridge.
Construction and naming
Construction of the road bridge began on April 30, 2025. It was named after Red Army officer Yakov Novichenko, who in 1946 shielded then-North Korean leader Kim Il Sung with his own body from a grenade thrown during a rally in Pyongyang. Novichenko survived the incident and was later awarded the title of Hero of Labor of North Korea.
