Key bridge linking North Korea and Russia almost finished, satellite images show

Key bridge linking North Korea and Russia almost finished, satellite images show37 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleThomas CopelandBBC VerifyBBCThe first road bridge connecting allies North Korea and Russia is nearing completion, satellite images analysed by BBC Verify show.It's the latest sign of the deepening relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow that has seen North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine."This bridge will offer a useful route to transfer military goods and munitions - both to North Korea and to Russia," said Dr Edward Howell, Korea Foundation Fellow at the Chatham House think tank.The new road across the Tumen River is located a few hundred meters from the only other bridge between the two countries - a rail connection known as the "Friendship Bridge".The latest satellite imagery shows the kilometre-long bridge alongside several new access roads, a border checkpoint, support infrastructure and parking facilities.Experts say this indicates the bridge is expected to become an important trade route between the two countries.An agreement to build the crossing was reached during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June 2024 when he met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.Construction began about a year later and BBC Verify has been using satellite imagery to track its progress.The crossing, known as the Khasan–Tumangang Bridge, has been built to handle up to 300 vehicles and 2,850 people a day, according to Russia's transport ministry.The total cost is estimated to exceed 9bn roubles (£88m; $120m), according to Russian state media."The speed of construction is a reflection of the volume of trade activity between the two sides," said Victor Cha from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank."This is spurred largely by North Korea's provision of troops, weapons, munitions, and labourers...