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

The 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.

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 for Putin's war in Ukraine," he said.

Russian and North Korean drivers will likely be expected to transfer over lorries full of goods at the crossing because they will be restricted from operating vehicles further into each other's territories, according to the CSIS.

The countries held a ceremony on 21 April to mark the joining of the two sides of the bridge and Russia's embassy in North Korea has said construction is set to be completed on 19 June.

Russia's foreign ministry said the bridge's opening will "become a truly landmark stage in Russian–Korean relations. Its significance goes far beyond a purely engineering task".

Rail traffic over the nearby Friendship Bridge has remained high during the construction of the road bridge as trade between the two countries has expanded, according to the CSIS.

"It is fair to say that this connection, prior to the war in Ukraine, was one of the sleepiest links between North Korea and its two neighbours," said Cha.

As well as agreeing to build the bridge, Putin and Kim signed a landmark agreement during the 2024 visit pledging that Russia and North Korea will help each other in the event of "aggression" against either country.

Belousov said he discussed long-term military co-operation with North Korean officials, according to Russian news agencies.

In return for providing soldiers and artillery, it is believed North Korea has received food, fuel and military technology from Russia.

"The construction of the bridge epitomizes how North Korea's ties with Russia look to continue beyond any end to the Ukraine war," said Howell.

Additional reporting by Paul Brown