Jakarta, ThedailyID — Russia and North Korea have strengthened their ties after opening a new 1-kilometer road bridge across the Tumangan River.
The bridge was inaugurated on Monday, September 7, 2026, by North Korean Prime Minister Pak Thae Song and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The new crossing can accommodate up to 300 vehicles and more than 2,000 people each day, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
The bridge is named after Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet Red Army officer who is credited with saving the life of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung. Novichenko’s relatives attended the inauguration ceremony.
During the event, trucks crossed the bridge while carrying the national flags of both countries.
The new bridge stands near the existing Friendship Bridge, a railway crossing that opened in 1959 after the Korean War.
Russia and North Korea already have direct rail and air connections. However, the new crossing marks the first road bridge connecting the two countries.
Mishustin said the new infrastructure could support broader economic cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
“I am confident that expanding cross-border transport infrastructure will provide a strong boost to further trade, economic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation,” Mishustin said in a video address at the inauguration, as quoted by Russia’s TASS news agency. Tuesday, September 8, 2026,
The bridge comes as Russia and North Korea continue to deepen their relationship, particularly in the military sector.
Their ties have grown closer since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. North Korea has also sent thousands of troops to Russia’s Kursk region to support Russian forces in the war.
Beyond military cooperation, the new bridge is expected to facilitate cross-border movement and expand economic, tourism and employment opportunities between the two countries.
