Russia and North Korea are set to begin construction of a new road bridge over the Tumen River, strengthening ties between the two nations, Russia’s ambassador to Pyongyang told state news agency RIA.
The project was agreed upon during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea in 2024 when both countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. The new bridge will be built near the existing “Friendship Bridge,” a rail link commissioned in 1959 after the Korean War. An older wooden bridge that once connected the two nations in the early 20th century was destroyed, according to Russian media reports.
Russia’s ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, confirmed that while construction had not yet begun, preparatory work was underway. “The parties are carrying out preparatory work, finalising design documentation, forming construction crews, and assembling columns of equipment,” he told RIA.
The road bridge, which has been in discussion for years, is expected to span 850 metres (2,789 feet) and integrate with Russia’s highway system. Satellite imagery analysis from South Korean firm SI Analytics suggested that work on the bridge’s foundations and connecting road links had already begun.
“With the rapid construction of this bridge following the existing rail link—the only passage between North Korea and Russia—a sharp increase in economic, social, and military exchanges is anticipated,” SI Analytics noted in a report on March 5. The firm also warned that the development could gradually weaken the effectiveness of international sanctions imposed on both nations.
The bridge is expected to enhance trade and connectivity between Moscow and Pyongyang, further solidifying their partnership in the face of global geopolitical tensions.
Melissa Enoch
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