Russia and North Korea advance transport cooperation: the Tumen River bridge project is highlighted

Transport ministers from Russia and North Korea met in St. Petersburg on Sunday to discuss a range of joint infrastructure and transport projects, including plans to build a road bridge over the Tumen River, which forms part of the border shared by the two countries as well as China, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

During the talks, Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin and his North Korean counterpart Cho Jong Hyon highlighted the long-standing strategic partnership between their countries’ transport sectors and reviewed key areas of cooperation. A major focus of the meeting was the proposed bridge across the Tumen River, which is expected to directly link the two nations.

The ministry described the bridge as both a technically demanding project and an important step toward strengthening economic, trade, and cultural ties. It added that construction is being closely overseen by both governments and is progressing as planned, with completion and the opening of traffic scheduled for summer 2026.

Work is also ongoing to upgrade the Khasan road border crossing, which is expected to handle up to 300 vehicles and more than 2,000 people per day once completed.

Rail cooperation was another key topic, with officials noting a sharp increase in passenger traffic—four times higher in the first two months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Efforts are also underway to expand tourism routes, including rail service between Vladivostok and Rajin. Four such trips were carried out in 2025 with 286 यात्रers, and six are already planned for 2026.

The ministry also pointed to the launch of a direct regular flight between the two capitals in July 2025 as a significant milestone. In aviation, both sides are discussing programs for training and retraining North Korean civil aviation specialists at Russian institutions.

In addition, the ministers signed an agreement to mutually recognize seafarers’ diplomas, which will help standardize training and certification requirements for maritime workers in both countries.