„The development of border transport infrastructure will provide a powerful impetus for further trade, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,“ said M. Mishustin.
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He noted that the access road to the bridge connects with the federal highway “Ussuri,” which is part of the international transport corridor “West – East.”
This is the first automobile bridge between these two countries. Until now, Russia and North Korea were directly connected only by the railway “Friendship Bridge,” opened back in 1959, reports “The Moscow Times.”
“Covered the grenade with his body”
The length of the automobile bridge is just over a kilometer, and together with the access roads – almost five kilometers. The bridge is named after Soviet officer Yakov Novichenko, who saved North Korean leader Kim Il Sung from an assassination attempt. It is said that he covered a grenade thrown at Kim Il Sung during a rally in Pyongyang with his body.
J. Novichenko survived, and the North Korean authorities awarded him the highest state title – Hero of Labor.
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At the opening ceremony of the traffic, the car column from the Russian side was led by a red “Zaporozhets” belonging to J. Novichenko. The driver was the grandson of the Soviet officer, Nikolai Shcherbickiy.
The agreement on the construction of the bridge over the Tumen River was made by Moscow and Pyongyang in June 2024 during Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea. At that time, Russia and North Korea signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.
This agreement, among other things, became the basis for sending North Korean soldiers to Russia to participate in the large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Construction of the bridge began in May 2025.
The then Russian Minister of Transport Andrey Nikitin stated that its opening would have strategic significance for the economy and social sphere of Russia and North Korea.
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