"The modernization of the railway linking North Korea, the Tumen River and Hasan, Russia..."North Korea and Russia accelerate their close ties"

Signs have been detected that North Korea is in the process of modernizing its railway infrastructure linking the Tumen River to Russia's Far East Vladivostok Hasan region.

Beyond Division, a website specializing in North Korea by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think tank, said modernization work is taking place on the Hassan railway based on satellite images taken on the 3rd and 15th.

Satellite images obtained by Beyond Parallel show buildings such as shops and restaurants at railway stations being demolished and reconstructed.

A canopy of 348m and 26m in width and length, respectively, is also being installed on the track in front of the facility under reconstruction, which is seen to be used to avoid rain and snow as well as to prevent filming, Beyond Ferrell noted.

It is analyzed that passenger train service linking North Korea and Russia has recently resumed for the first time in five years, and that it is accelerating the pace of close contact with North Korea and Russia by modernizing facilities.The media outlet

noted that concrete sleeper was piled up on the south side of the railway station, and analyzed that North Korea's replacement of wooden rails with concrete reflects expectations that rail traffic with Russia could increase significantly, although it is a measure of repair for old facilities.

The United States has considered Hasan Railway to be linked to the relocation of North Korean munitions to Russia.

In addition, 225 trains were seen on satellite images as of the 3rd, and trains converted into temporary accommodations for rail workers were also visible near the warehouse area.

In the railway vehicle service facility in the south, three tank vehicles to transport oil and other items were also spotted under maintenance.

Beyond Parallel noted that maintenance facilities have been observed to be mostly operational this year, suggesting increased use of rail vehicles.

It also added that at least seven tank vehicles were observed at the oil unloading facility on the south side of the warehouse, indicating that oil was continuously being delivered from Russia to North Korea.

He then pointed out that the warehouse facility east of the Hasan railway facility, which had been neglected since 2002, was demolished between late October and early November, and said it could be related to plans to expand North Korea-Russia railway trade or part of preparations for the construction of a bridge across the Tumen River.

North Korea and Russia agreed to build a road bridge across the Tumen River in the wake of the signing of a "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in June.

Beyond Parallel pointed out that the change is a key indicator of the strategic strengthening of military and economic relations between North Korea and Russia.

The railway linking Hasan and the Tumen River was suspended during the coronavirus pandemic, only slightly resuming rail freight traffic, which has since resumed regular operations since June, following a trial run of passenger trains.

North Korea and Russia have held several high-level talks this year, and Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to North Korea in June.

Since the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, the two sides have also accelerated military cooperation by sending North Korean troops to the war in Ukraine.