First road bridge opened between Russia and North Korea

Russia and North Korea opened their first road bridge between the two countries on September 7.

According to Current Time, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song took part in the ceremony via video link.

The bridge spans the Tumen River, which forms part of the border between the two countries. It is approximately one kilometer long and has two traffic lanes.

The bridge was named the Yakov Novichenko Bridge, after a Red Army officer who, in 1946, shielded North Korean leader Kim Il Sung from a grenade thrown at him during a rally in Pyongyang. Novichenko survived and later received the title of Hero of Labor of the DPRK.

The Russian and North Korean authorities say the bridge is intended to expand trade and tourism.