North Korea and Russia have started building their first road connection, with both countries calling it an important step in strengthening their growing relationship. According to Russia’s Tass news agency, the bridge will be 1 kilometre long and is expected to take one year to complete. North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency said the bridge will help increase the movement of people, boost tourism and improve the flow of goods between the two countries. 

In recent years, the relationship and exchange programs between the two countries have grown stronger, with North Korea providing ammunition and soldiers to help Russia in its war against Ukraine. A railway bridge and air service are already linked to North Korea and Russia. In June 2024, the two countries agreed to build a new bridge for cars over the Tumen River, which flows along North Korea's borders with both Russia and China. On Thursday, North Korea and Russia held a joint ceremony to mark the start of the bridge's construction in their border cities. Both countries' state media reported that North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin took part in the ceremony via video links. 

Pakistan said that the bridge's construction will be remembered as an important symbol in the relationship between the two countries, according to a report by KCNA on Thursday. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called it a significant milestone for Russian-Korean relations, as reported by Tass. He added that this project lays a strong foundation for closer cooperation between the two nations, opening the door for open and productive dialogue. On Monday, North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to Russia to help reclaim parts of the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces had taken during a surprising attack last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea and promised to remember the sacrifices made by North Korean soldiers for Russia.

A South Korean government intelligence report shared with lawmakers on Wednesday revealed that North Korea has sent around 15,000 soldiers to Russia, with 4,700 of them either killed or injured. According to South Korea's assessment, in exchange for North Korea providing conventional weapons, Russia has supplied North Korea with air defence missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones, and technology for launching spy satellites.