▲ The Korean Central News Agency reported on April 23 that successful work was carried out on April 21 to connect both sections of the road bridge at the North Korea-Russia border.
The North Korea-Russia road bridge spanning the Tumen River is increasingly likely to open in September due to steady construction progress on the Russian side, US North Korea-specialized media outlet 38 North reported on August 24 local time.
Analyzing satellite imagery from commercial satellite operator Planet Labs, 38 North assessed that the bridge's road connection points and the main facilities of the immigration and customs complex have reached a level that allows for the first traffic pass next month.
Satellite photos from August 22 captured the main truck access road passing through the complex being paved, along with final construction work on the last few hundreds of meters of road leading to the bridge.
The construction of the new Tumen River road bridge is part of the agreements reached during the North Korea-Russia summit held in Pyongyang in June 2024, and construction broke ground in April of last year.
At the bridge connection ceremony in April of this year, the Russian government stated that it was scheduled for completion on June 19, but that target was not met.
38 North noted that throughout the summer, a heavy volume of remaining work by the Russian side made it uncertain whether the revised September opening goal would be met, but assessed that construction has made significant progress over the past month.
It projected that thanks to this construction progress, Russia and North Korea could announce the opening of the bridge in September, even if some construction in other areas within the complex remains unfinished.
Possibility is also being raised that the timing of the bridge's opening could coincide with the Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok, Russia, which runs from September 1 to 4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended this event almost every year.
38 North reported that President Putin is expected to attend the Eastern Economic Forum once again, with speculations emerging that he could attend the bridge opening ceremony alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
(Photo: Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap News)
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