President Says Russia Considers Building Road Access To Borders With China And North Korea

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin said Russia would consider building access roads to the country's borders with North Korea, China, to Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

"We will continue to develop the East route proactively. This route will be expanded to Tyumen and connected to the upgraded main Siberia and East East road networks," President Putin said at the opening ceremony of the M-12 Eastern section via video conference link, reported TASS17 July.

"This is what I mean that there will be more things to note in the launch of this section," he said.

"Of course, the construction of toll roads towards the country's borders with Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be considered. This will significantly improve our transit capabilities," the Russian leader continued.

"This route will be integrated into an international transportation architecture, becoming an important and competitive logistics route," said President Putin.

Recently, North Korea and Russia have begun construction of the first road between the two countries, praising the construction of a new bridge over a border river that will further expand their rapidly growing relationship, quoted from AP.

TASS reported on May 1, the bridge will have a length of 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) and construction is expected to take 1.5 years.

Meanwhile, North Korean news agency KCNA said the bridge would expand cross-border travel, tourism and commodity circulation.

Previously, a railroad bridge and air services had connected North Korea and Russia. In June 2024, the two countries agreed to build a bridge for cars over the Tumen River, which stretches along North Korea's border with Russia and China.