Train crosses North Korea border into Russia following US arms report

Reuters reported the information citing 38 North, the Washington think tank.

The 38 North project, the think tank that keeps track of North Korean developments, claimed it was the first time such a train movement had been observed on the route in a number of years. Although Russia's veterinary service reported on Wednesday that a train had crossed the border into North Korea carrying horses, the publication wrote.

"It is impossible to determine the purpose of the train from the imagery, but the crossing comes amid reports of arms sales from North Korea to Russia and a general expectation of the resumption of trade between the two countries," Reuters cited 38 North.

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Reuters also points out that The 800-yard Tumangang Friendship Bridge (also known as the Korea-Russia Friendship Bridge), the only land connection between the two nations, was reportedly closed by North Korea in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the 38 North’s report, a three-car enclosed railcar set could be seen on the Korean side of the border at 10:24 a.m. local time (0124 GMT), and by 1:10 p.m. local time (0410 GMT), it seemed to be in Russia behind a locomotive, about 200 yards from the end of the railway bridge.

Nearly two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the border, at 2:29 p.m. (05:29 GMT), the locomotive and three railcars were visible on the tracks at Russia's Khasan Station, and three additional smaller covered railcars—possibly containers on flatcars—were parked next to the freshly arrived train on an adjacent track, Reuters wrote.