Russia and North Korea have opened the first road bridge across their shared border, marking a notable step in their increasing diplomatic and economic ties. The one-kilometre bridge spans the Tumen River, connecting Khasan in Russia’s far east with Tumangang in North Korea. This remote area, near the coast and sparsely populated, has long been a quiet part of the two nations’ shared frontier. During the bridge’s opening ceremony on Monday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin addressed attendees via video link, saying the new crossing would boost local development, particularly in tourism, and create new employment opportunities. He emphasized that improved cross-border infrastructure could strengthen trade, science, technology, and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The bridge is named after Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet officer who is credited with saving North Korea’s founding leader, Kim Il-sung, from an assassination attempt by a pro-South Korean group. After the ceremony, convoys of vehicles from both Russia and North Korea crossed the bridge, signaling its immediate use. The two countries already have a railway bridge across the Tumen River and regular flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang. However, Ukrainian human rights organizations have raised concerns about the bridge’s potential military use. Truth Hounds, a Ukrainian rights group, suggested it could serve as a discreet logistics corridor for moving North Korean troops, construction teams, and military officials into Russia. This would allow Russian technology and resources to move in the opposite direction with less risk of being noticed. The group warned that such a corridor could support military operations or aid in the transfer of equipment and personnel. Relations between Russia and North Korea have grown stronger since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response to a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, North Korea is believed to have sent thousands of troops to assist Moscow. In return, Russia is reported to have provided North Korea with advanced military equipment, including air-defence missiles, electronic warfare systems, drones, and spy-satellite technology, according to South Korean intelligence. Both countries have also promoted North Korea as a new tourist destination, with Russian visitors flocking to its recently opened resorts and ski areas since 2024. Russia’s deepening ties with North Korea have sparked unease even within Russia itself. During an interview with the Russian broadcaster RBC, journalist asked Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov how Russia had ended up with only two allies—North Korea and Iran. Lavrov dismissed the idea, saying there was "nothing wrong" with having those partners. Meanwhile, some of Russia’s traditional allies have expressed frustration over Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine and its regional consequences. At a meeting in July, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a long-time Russian ally, told President Vladimir Putin that many world leaders were questioning why Russia continued the war. Tokayev noted that the conflict’s nature remained unclear to many, including himself.