Russia and North Korea open first cross-border highway bridge named "Novichenko Bridge"

On Monday (September 7), Russia and North Korea cut the ribbon for the opening of the first highway bridge between the two countries. Moscow and Pyongyang are deepening their strategic partnership.

The bridge spans the Tumen River, near the existing Friendship Bridge. The Friendship Bridge is a railway bridge built in 1959 after the Korean War.

Russia and North Korea already have direct rail and air links, but so far there is no road bridge connecting them.

The new bridge is named after Soviet Red Army officer Yakov Novichenko. He is said to have saved Kim Il Sung's life. Novichenko's relatives attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new bridge.

The bridge construction project will start in April 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin reached an agreement on the project during his visit to North Korea in 2024.

Russian Prime Minister Mishustin said that the new road bridge will promote economic development, tourism and employment. In a video of the ribbon-cutting ceremony released by the TASS news agency, Mishustin said: "I firmly believe that the expansion of cross-border transportation infrastructure will provide new impetus and promote cooperation in trade, economy, science and technology, and culture."

Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have been significantly strengthened. In 2024, North Korea sent thousands of soldiers to the Kursk region of Russia to provide assistance to the Russian army and resist the Ukrainian army.