The first road bridge between Russia and North Korea opens to facilitate the transportation of goods and passengers

The first road bridge connecting Russia to North Korea (North Korea) has been opened, making it easier for the two countries to transport goods and passengers across the Tumen River border.

Pyongyang's state media said the bridge would be used for "people exchanges, tourism and trade".

But Ukrainian investigative agency Truth Hounds said the bridge was intended to "primarily create a covert military logistics corridor" to support Russia's operations in the war in Ukraine.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, relations between the two countries have become increasingly close. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have previously pledged to assist each other if either side suffers "aggression."

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin described the bridge as a "new symbol of friendship", while North Korean Prime Minister Park Tae-sung said it was a "historic event".

Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported that the bridge can accommodate up to 300 vehicles and 2,323 people per day.

Satellite images reported by the BBC in May this year showed that several new connecting roads, a border checkpoint, supporting infrastructure and parking facilities were built next to the 1-kilometer-long bridge.

Reuters reported that there were already air and rail connections between the two countries, but the only road connection before was a temporary arrangement, which involved laying wooden planks on the railway bridge through a special agreement to allow cars to pass.

According to reports, the Russian government said that the bridge will initially be used to transport goods, and will then be opened to passenger traffic later this year.

Mishustin said the bridge would provide a "strong impetus" for further development of trade, economic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation.

Attending the opening ceremony via video link, he said that relations between Moscow and Pyongyang are at an "unprecedented high level."

The most immediate impact may be increased arms exports to Russia.

Researchers at South Korea's intelligence agency estimate that North Korea has transferred rockets, missiles and artillery shells worth US$7 billion to US$14 billion (47 billion to 94 billion yuan; NT$220.5 billion to 440.9 billion NT dollars) to Russia via ships. An estimated 11,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia participating in combat operations in Ukraine.

Truth Hounds recently said in a statement that the bridge could be used to transport North Korean military personnel, construction workers and senior military officials directly to Russia, given the strategic partnership treaty signed by the two countries in 2024.

The statement stated that this would also enable the reverse flow of Russian technology and resources to North Korea.

Construction of the bridge begins in 2025. The agreement to build the bridge was reached during Putin's visit to North Korea in 2024. It was his first visit to North Korea in 24 years, during which the partnership treaty was brokered. After delays, the bridge took 495 days to complete.

Since being allowed to enter the country in 2024, Russian tourists have been traveling to North Korea one after another. North Korea has been hosting them in the capital, Pyongyang, and at the Kalma seaside resort in Wonsan, while continuing to block the entry of tourists from other countries.

The road is also expected to transport North Korean laborers to Russia.

South Korea estimates that about 10,000 North Koreans work at construction sites and logging camps in Russia. Although the United Nations bans countries from using North Korean labor, many enter Russia on student visas.