North Korea and Russia open first road bridge across shared border

North Korea and Russia have opened the first road bridge over their shared border in a show of deepening ties between the two nations amid the Ukraine war.

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.

The government said up to 300 vehicles will be able to pass through it daily.

The first flag-adorned trucks crossed the one kilometre road on Monday as Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korea's Premier Pak Thae Song tuned in by video link to address workers and government officials from both countries.

Mr Mishustin said the new route would "further strengthen the connection between our friendly countries".

"I am convinced that the expansion of cross-border transport infrastructure will provide a powerful impetus for the further development of trade, economic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation," he said.

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".

While the two countries already share rail and air links, a road bridge had been under discussion for years.

Construction began in April last year after a deal was reached during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in 2024.

Russia and North Korea have heavily boosted military and economic ties since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive.

North Korea has dispatched thousands of troops to Russia since 2024 to help ward off a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused Moscow of using North Korean missiles in its nightly barrages.

Last month, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers would be deployed to fight for Russia.

"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.

Ukrainian human rights organisation Truth Hounds has said the bridge, which connects the Russian town of Khasan with the North Korean town of Tumangang, could be used as "a covert military logistics corridor rather than to facilitate trade".

"The bridge could be used to transport North Korean military personnel, construction workers and senior military officials directly to Russia," it said in a recent statement.

"It would also enable the flow of Russian technology and resources in the opposite direction."

North Korea and Russia signed a defence treaty in 2024 that provided mutual support if either country were to be attacked.

Russia said trucks would begin to use the bridge immediately to transport cargo, and would be fully operational for passenger traffic by the end of the year.

One of the world's most isolated and repressive countries, North Korea bars most its citizens from leaving and heavily monitors incoming travellers.

Russian tourism to the hermit state has also increased in recent years, although Pyongyang sometimes closes its border at short notice.