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Russia and North Korea Open First Road Bridge Across Their Border
Confirmed
In Short: Russia and North Korea have inaugurated the first road bridge connecting their shared border, a move aimed at boosting trade and cooperation, though concerns have been raised about potential military use.
Russia and North Korea have opened the first road bridge connecting their shared border, a move aimed at boosting trade and cooperation, though concerns have been raised about potential military use.
The new bridge, which crosses the Tumen River, is designed to accommodate a projected growth in freight and passenger traffic, according to the Russian government. Construction began in April last year after a deal was reached during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in 2024.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the new route would 'further strengthen the connection between our friendly countries' and that the expansion of cross-border transport infrastructure would provide a powerful impetus for further development of trade, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural cooperation.
However, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian human rights organization Truth Hounds have expressed concerns that the bridge could be used as a covert military logistics corridor rather than to facilitate trade. They believe it could be used to transport North Korean military personnel, construction workers, and senior military officials directly to Russia.
North Korea and Russia signed a defense treaty in 2024 that provided mutual support if either country were to be attacked. The bridge is expected to be fully operational for passenger traffic by the end of the year, with trucks beginning to use it immediately to transport cargo.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Mr Mishustin also said ties between Moscow and Pyongyang were "at an unprecedented high level" and called the opening of the bridge "a genuinely historic event".
- Russia and North Korea have heavily boosted military and economic ties since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive.
- "It is absolutely clear that North Korea will continue to build its experience in modern warfare, receive licenses from Russia, and receive all kinds of military tools from them," he said.
Sources
- ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporationlink
- Banglanews24link
- Macau Businesslink
- The Guardianlink
- The Jerusalem Postlink
- The Kyiv Independentlink
- The Moscow Timeslink
- couriernews.comlink
- livingstonenterprise.netlink
- Channelnewsasialink
- AP Newslink
- Kyivindependentlink
- Smhlink
- Kyivpostlink
- Newscordlink
- Therecordlink