A new road bridge connecting Russia's Khasan village with North Korea is nearing completion, sparking concerns in Kyiv that Russia may use it to secretly deploy North Korean troops to the front lines in Ukraine, deepening military cooperation between the two isolated nations.
The main span of a road bridge across the Tumen River on the Russia-North Korea border was officially joined on April 21, marking a milestone for the infrastructure project that will facilitate trade between the two countries. The nearly 5 km crossing includes a 1 km bridge with two lanes. Construction began less than a year ago, with 70 people and 30 pieces of equipment deployed on the Russian side. The bridge is scheduled to open in June 2026.
Ties between both countries have surged amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow and Pyongyang deepening economic, political, cultural and military links.
North Korea and Russia held a ceremony to mark the linking of a cross-border road bridge over the Tumen River, with final completion expected by June 19. The bridge signifies deepening alignment between the two nations.
