Wikipedia

Khasan–Tumangang Bridge

The Khasan-Tumangang Bridge (Russian: Автомобильный мост между Приморьем и КНДР, Korean: 프리모리예와 조선을 잇는 자동차 다리) is an international road bridge across the Tumen River on the North Korea–Russia border, currently under construction. The crossing will connect Khasan, Russia and Tumangang, North Korea. When complete, the bridge will supplement the existing Korea–Russia Friendship Bridge through providing a road transit link between the cities of Vladivostok and Chongjin. It is sited approximately 15km upstream from the river's mouth at the Sea of Japan, and approximately 1km downstream from the limit of extent of Chinese territory down the Tumen River.

Khasan–Tumangang Bridge
Site of the future bridge, located to the east of the Korea–Russia Friendship Bridge
Coordinates42°24′43″N 130°38′45″E / 42.412022°N 130.645833°E / 42.412022; 130.645833
CrossesTumen River, North Korea–Russia border
LocaleKhasan, Tumangang
Characteristics
DesignGirder bridge
Total length1.005 km (0.6 mi)
Width7 m (23 ft)
No. of lanes2
History
Constructed byTunnelYuzhStroy
Construction start30 April 2025
Construction end19 June 2026/Summer 2026 (expected)
Construction cost₽9 billion (expected)
Location
Map
Interactive map of Khasan–Tumangang Bridge

History

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Since August 1959, the sole crossing point between the Russia and North Korea has been the Korea–Russia Friendship Bridge.[1] Planks are laid between the tracks, making the crossing of road vehicles possible by special arrangement, but it is primarily a rail bridge.[2] Logistics are further complicated by the North Korean railway network primarily using standard-gauge railways, with the Russian gauge line terminating at the port city of Rason.

Design

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The bridge spans the Tumen River and is located 415 meters to the east of the existing Korea-Russia Friendship Bridge.[3] The bridge is supported by concrete supports and steel spans of a distance of 1,005 meters, with 581 meters on the North Korean side and 424 meters on the Russian side.[4] The road deck contains two lanes with a width of seven meters.[5] On the Russian side, a 2.4 km road around Khasan would also be built. Border checkpoints are also to be established on both sides of the bridge.

Once operational, the Khasan border checkpoint is designed to process up to 300 vehicles per day.[6]

The cost of construction is estimated to be approximately 9 billion rubles.[6] In 2025, 120 million rubles for design and 5.38 billion rubles for construction were allocated from the federal budget. The remaining 3.57 billion rubles is planned for 2026.

Construction

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View of the bridge site and Korea-Russia Friendship Bridge from China in July 2025. Early construction work can be observed on the Korean side.

In early 2025, the tender for construction work on the Russian side was awarded to the Sochi based TunnelYuzhStroy.[7] In addition preparatory work began on the Tumangang side in early 2025.[8]

Construction work on the bridge began on 30 April 2025, following a virtual announcement by Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin and Premier of North Korea, Pak Thae-song.[5][9][6][10] Russian sources indicated that the target completion date was set for December 2026.[4]

Speaking at the 2025 Eastern Economic Forum in September 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin clarified that the bridge would be completed in 2026.[11]

By October 2025, construction had progressed significantly, with a new aggregate plant, border checkpoint, access road and support piers progressing on the North Korean side.[12] On the Russian side, support piers, access roads and a helipad were underway.[13][14]

In early January 2026, Russian media reported that the bridge was expected to be complete by 19 June 2026.[15]

By mid-March 2026, both Korean and Russian bridge spans were close to being connected, spanning the width of the Tumen River.[16] Satellite imagery showed that progress on border infrastructure and connecting roads on both sides of the river had also progressed.[17][18]

In April 2026, Russian transport minister Andrei Nikitin and his North Korean counterpart Cho Jong-ryong reported at the International Transport and Logistics Forum in Saint Petersburg that construction was proceeding according to schedule, with an expected opening in Summer 2026.[19][20] On 21 April 2026, a ceremony marking the connection of both sides of the bridge was held.[21][22][23]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "N. Korea, Russia launch construction of road bridge across Tumen River: Seoul". The Korea Times. 2025-04-30.
  2. ↑ Wright, Emily (2026-04-25). "Russia's new £89m bridge to 'world's most dangerous country' to open in June". Express. Archived from the original on 2026-05-09.
  3. ↑ "Мост дружбы через реку Туманную свяжет Россию и КНДР". www.mk.ru (in Russian). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  4. 1 2 Зимин, Сергей (2025-04-30). "Автомобильный мост из Приморья в КНДР будет построен за 1,5 года". Новости Mail (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  5. 1 2 "Russia-North Korea bridge project symbolic of link between countries — PM". TASS. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  6. 1 2 3 Kostyuchenko, Margarita. "Строительство автомобильного моста между Россией и КНДР: детали и перспективы". Всеостройке.рф (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  7. ↑ "Автомост из РФ в КНДР планируется построить к 2027 году". Interfax.ru (in Russian). 2025-02-03. Archived from the original on 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  8. ↑ antonsokolin (2025-03-06). "Russia speeds up work on bridge to North Korea despite winter weather: Report | NK News". NK News - North Korea News. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  9. ↑ "PM Mishustin to launch car bridge project between Russia, North Korea". TASS. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  10. ↑ "North Korea hails first road bridge to Russia". www.bbc.com. 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  11. ↑ "Bridge between Russia, North Korea to open next year — Putin". TASS. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  12. ↑ "Satellite photos show Russia and North Korea's new border bridge". Newsweek. 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  13. ↑ Joseph S. Bermudez Jr; Victor Cha; Jennifer Jun (2025-10-27). "Significant Progress of the North Korea-Russia Road Bridge". Beyond Parallel. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  14. ↑ antonsokolin (2025-11-28). "North Korea, Russia to install new decking structures on $100 million bridge". NK PRO. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  15. ↑ "В Минтуризма Приморья ожидают роста турпотока из РФ в КНДР с запуском моста". TACC (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-01-17.
  16. ↑ Martyn Williams; Iliana Ragnone (2026-03-12). "Russian Bridge Construction Work Meets in the Middle - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  17. ↑ antonsokolin (2026-04-06). "Russia says new road bridge to North Korea set to open this summer | NK News". NK News - North Korea News. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  18. ↑ "Russia and North Korea Open Historic Khasan-Tumangang Bridge in Summer 2026, Uniting Two Nations with a Direct Road Access for the First Time". TTW. 2026-04-22. Archived from the original on 2026-05-04.
  19. ↑ "Мост из Приморья в КНДР строится по графику". Байкал24 (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  20. ↑ "Мост между Приморьем и КНДР планируют открыть летом 2026 года - ОТВПрим" (in Russian). 2026-04-06. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  21. ↑ "Россию и КНДР соединит новый автомобильный мост". Министерство транспорта Российской Федерации. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  22. ↑ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Russia, North Korea Connect Road Bridge Ahead Of Summer Opening". barrons. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  23. ↑ "Russia, North Korea connect road bridge ahead of summer opening". France 24. 2026-04-21. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
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