![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25120277937903-1746019710.jpg\")
People watch footage of North Korean soldiers doing combat training in Russia, during a news programme at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, April 30 [Ahn Young-joon\/AP]<\/p>\nMoscow says the project will boost trade and highlight the two countries\u2019 strong alliance.<\/p>\n
Russia and North Korea have begun construction of their first-ever road bridge on the Tumen River, which forms the natural border between the allied countries, describing it as a symbol of their deepening partnership.<\/p>\n
Announcing the project on Wednesday, Russia\u2019s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said it would reduce transport costs, facilitate trade and promote tourism.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is truly a milestone for Russian-Korean relations,\u201d Mishustin said during a video meeting with Pak Thae-song, chairman of North Korea\u2019s Supreme People\u2019s Assembly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe significance goes far beyond just an engineering task \u2026 it symbolises our common desire to strengthen friendly, good-neighbourly relations and increase interregional cooperation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
There is already a rusting, Soviet-era rail bridge across the Tumen River.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother road will allow entrepreneurs to significantly increase the volume of transport [goods] and reduce transport costs \u2013 and, of course, open up good prospects for tourism,\u201d said Mishustin.<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s Kommersant newspaper said the bridge will be ready by mid-2026.<\/p>\n
\u2018Eternal historical monument\u2019<\/p>\n
Russian state TV aired footage from the site, showing North Koreans dressed in suits, standing in line during a ceremony marking the start of construction.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will become an eternal historical memorial structure symbolising the unbreakable Korean-Russian friendly relations,\u201d North Korea\u2019s Pak Thae-song said, according to a Russian translation.<\/p>\n
The governor of Russia\u2019s Primorye region, Oleg Kozhemyako, who attended the ceremony, said he hoped it would boost contact between the countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many sportspeople and children going there,\u201d he said, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
People watch footage of North Korean soldiers doing combat training in Russia, during a news programme at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, April 30 [Ahn Young-joon\/AP]<\/p>\n
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North Korea and Russia, two of the most sanctioned countries in the world, have leaned into their alliance during Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Pyongyang has repeatedly voiced strong support<\/a> for Russia\u2019s invasion and even sent thousands of its own troops<\/a> to fight alongside the Russians.<\/p>\n About 600 North Korean soldiers have died in the war<\/a>, South Korean lawmakers said Wednesday, citing intelligence officials.<\/p>\n North Korea is also accused by Kyiv of supplying Russia with heavy weapons it has used in battle, including a missile that killed a dozen people in Kyiv last week.<\/p>\n