Moscow says the challenge will increase commerce and spotlight the 2 international locations’ sturdy alliance.
Russia and North Korea have begun building of their first-ever street bridge on the Tumen River, which types the pure border between the allied international locations, describing it as an emblem of their deepening partnership.
Asserting the challenge on Wednesday, Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin stated it will cut back transport prices, facilitate commerce and promote tourism.
“That is really a milestone for Russian-Korean relations,” Mishustin stated throughout a video assembly with Pak Thae-song, chairman of North Korea’s Supreme Folks’s Meeting.
“The importance goes far past simply an engineering process … it symbolises our frequent want to strengthen pleasant, good-neighbourly relations and improve interregional cooperation,” he added.
There’s already a rusting, Soviet-era rail bridge throughout the Tumen River.
“One other street will enable entrepreneurs to considerably improve the amount of transport [goods] and cut back transport prices – and, in fact, open up good prospects for tourism,” stated Mishustin.
Russia’s Kommersant newspaper stated the bridge might be prepared by mid-2026.
‘Everlasting historic monument’
Russian state TV aired footage from the positioning, exhibiting North Koreans wearing fits, standing in line throughout a ceremony marking the beginning of building.
“It is going to develop into an everlasting historic memorial construction symbolising the unbreakable Korean-Russian pleasant relations,” North Korea’s Pak Thae-song stated, in line with a Russian translation.
The governor of Russia’s Primorye area, Oleg Kozhemyako, who attended the ceremony, stated he hoped it will increase contact between the international locations.
“There are various sportspeople and kids going there,” he stated, with out elaborating.
North Korea and Russia, two of probably the most sanctioned international locations on this planet, have leaned into their alliance throughout Russia’s struggle in Ukraine.
Pyongyang has repeatedly voiced strong support for Russia’s invasion and even sent thousands of its own troops to combat alongside the Russians.
About 600 North Korean troopers have died in the war, South Korean lawmakers stated Wednesday, citing intelligence officers.
North Korea can also be accused by Kyiv of supplying Russia with heavy weapons it has utilized in battle, together with a missile that killed a dozen folks in Kyiv final week.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership with Pyongyang final yr that dedicated each international locations to offering speedy navy help to one another utilizing “all means” obligatory if both faces “aggression”.
Putin has since hailed the North Korean troops combating Ukraine, with the Kremlin even contemplating them parading on Crimson Sq. throughout World Battle II commemorations on Could 9.
