North Korea’s Bridge Of Death

For the North Korean men being drafted into Putin’s military, crossing the Tumen bridge may well be a one-way trip.

James Zumwalt | September 16, 2026

An interesting development has occurred in North Korea—one that creates a new opening, but not for the West.

As the crow flies, the distance between North Korean capital Pyongyang and South Korean capital Seoul is 121 miles. By air, this would take little more than thirty minutes. But, two major problems exist: first, anyone seeking entry to Pyongyang needs specific authorization from its government; second, North Korea does not allow direct flights from Seoul to Pyongyang. Thus, someone located in Seoul who has obtained authorization to enter Pyongyang first needs to fly elsewhere and then on to Pyongyang.

There are only four cities in the world from which North Korea allows entry to Pyongyang airport. And, unsurprisingly, these four cities fall within only two countries—China and Russia. Because of the tight control North Korea maintains on its borders—both to prevent illegal immigration (a true rarity although at least seven U.S. soldiers have defected since the Korean war) and illegal emigration (a much more common problem for Pyongyang)—it has long been called the “Hermit Kingdom.”

The name originated in the late 19th century in reference to the entire peninsula, due to its isolationist policies. However, the name was retained by the North after it and South Korea became independent nations in 1948. North Korea honed its isolationist skills as it developed what is known as its “Juche Idea”—a philosophy that calls for total self-reliance. This ideology explains why, for over seven decades now, the North has maintained its third world status while the economy of its neighbor to the south impressively ranks 13th in the world.

But despite limited roadways allowing access to North Korea, Pyongyang........

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