While the new road bridge between Russia and North Korea targeted a mid-June opening, the incomplete Russian customs area makes a near-term opening unlikely. Commercial satellite imagery shows construction on North Korean’s customs area appears all but finished, however, despite abundant construction materials and activity around the probable Russian customs site, much more work will be required for this crossing point to be operational.
Background
The two countries held a ceremony on April 21 this year to mark the linking of the North Korean and Russia sides of the bridge. At that time, the Russian government said the project would be completed by June 19. However, while the bridge itself appears to be complete, its inauguration seems unlikely for some months.
On the North Korean side of the river, a large warehouse was built earlier this year. Since then, a large parking lot has been added and new roads to and from the bridge have been built and paved. A new frontier post, which was under construction in March, appears to be complete, likely serving as a customs and immigration checkpoint for traffic entering the country.
The warehouse, as at other crossing points, is likely a temporary holding point for goods being imported and exported. Typically, at North Korea’s border crossings with China, trucks transport goods to a warehouse just inside the country before immediately returning. Once the vehicle has left North Korea, local trucks come in to pick up the goods and transport them to destinations inside the country.
This method, while inefficient, limits contact between North Korean and Chinese truck drivers and prevents foreign trucks from driving deep into either country. This helps to ensure North Koreans are minimally exposed to foreign culture and prevents Chinese drivers from seeing too much of North Korea’s rural realities.
The same arrangement will apparently be used at the new Russian bridge, given the similar border area configurations.
On the Russian side of the bridge, the customs complex appears it will be at least three times larger than that on the North Korean side, but is far less advanced in its construction progress. Since March, a few buildings appear nearly completed, with work on the largest building ongoing. Building materials, cranes, and vehicles are observed throughout the site, suggesting a high level of activity is underway. Little-to-no progress has been made on the reciprocal frontier post or on improving the connecting roads.
The bridge is the first road connection between Russia and North Korea and sits about 500 meters south of an existing railway bridge that is the only physical link between the two countries. Trade between Russia and North Korea has increased since North Korea began supplying weapons and soldiers to aid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Further economic and trade activity is expected to grow as the two countries proceed to build cooperation under their comprehensive strategic partnership treaty.
