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Russia And North Korea Strengthen Ties With New 850-Meter Highway Bridge Over The Tumen River, Marking Progress In The Connection Between The Two Allied Countries.
Russia and North Korea began on Wednesday (30) the construction of a new highway bridge that will connect the two countries over the Tumen River. The structure will be about 850 meters long and is being built near the current Friendship Bridge, inaugurated in 1959 and used for rail transport.
The project was formalized during a ceremony attended by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and marks another chapter in the deepening of the strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. The new bridge is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, according to information released by the Russian agency TASS and the newspaper Kommersant.
Bridge Is A Symbol Of Closer Ties Between The Countries
During the event, Mishustin emphasized that the new bridge represents more than an engineering project. According to him, the structure symbolizes the common desire of Russia and North Korea to strengthen diplomatic and commercial ties.
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“The importance goes far beyond a mere engineering task. It symbolizes our common desire to strengthen friendly relations and good neighborliness and to increase interregional cooperation,” he declared.
The construction has been discussed for years and gained momentum after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in 2024, when both countries made commitments to expand their economic and logistical cooperation.
Road And Logistical Integration
The new bridge will be integrated into Russia’s road system, facilitating the flow of goods and the movement of people between the two countries. According to Mishustin, the expectation is that the structure will help reduce logistical costs and significantly increase the volume of goods transported, strengthening bilateral trade.
“The project will ensure reliable and stable supply of various products, contributing to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation between Russia and North Korea,” the Prime Minister stated.
Strategic Location
The bridge is being built over the Tumen River, one of the main waterways in Northeast Asia. The river marks part of the border between the two countries and is considered a strategic route for regional transport. The chosen location for the project is near the Friendship Bridge, which has served as a railway connection between Russia and North Korea for more than six decades.
Over the years, the growth of commercial demands and the need for more modern road infrastructure led both governments to discuss the feasibility of a new land link. The start of construction marks the realization of this initiative.
Expanding Cooperation
The announcement of the new bridge comes amid a context of rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang, driven by mutual geopolitical and economic interests. Russia, facing international sanctions since 2022, has sought to strengthen ties with Asian countries, while North Korea sees in the partnership an opportunity to diversify its trade connections and reduce its international isolation.
The construction of the bridge is another sign of this rapprochement, which includes agreements in sectors such as transport, energy, and technology. The project also reinforces the role of infrastructure as a tool for diplomacy and integration between neighboring countries.
Source: CNN
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