Seoul, South Korea – North Korea said that the construction of a new bridge that links it with Russia is a “significant” development in relations between the two countries, state media reported Thursday.
Russia and North Korea began on Wednesday the construction of a road bridge that will cover the river. He had been in discussion for years, but was agreed during a visit by President Vladimir Putin to North Korea in 2024.
“It provides a substantial guarantee to establish and reinforce … important infrastructure for economic cooperation and to vitalize bilateral cooperation, including the trip of people, tourism and the circulation of basic products,” said the state agency KCNA.
The bridge is being built near the “existing friendship bridge, a railway bridge that was commissioned in 1959 after the Korean War.
In a ceremony that marks the beginning of construction, Russian prime minister, Mikhail, Mishustin, also said it was a significant event in Northern Russian-Corean relations, the Tass news agency in Russia reported Wednesday.
“The meaning goes far beyond an engineering task,” Mishustin said. “Symbolizes our common desire to strengthen friendly and well -neighboring relationships and increase interregional cooperation.”
The New Road Bridge, which has been under discussion for years, will have almost 2,800 feet long and will join the Russian road system. The Kommersant newspaper in Russia said it would be ready for the summer of 2026.
Mishustin said the bridge “will allow entrepreneurs to significantly increase transport volumes and reduce transport costs, guarantee reliable and stable supplies of various products, which will contribute to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation,” Tass said.
North Korea seems to have obtained economic and military benefits in exchange for sending weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Pyongyang is discussing industrial modernization in 14 sectors with the help of Russia, even in metals, aviation, energy and tourism, South Korean legislators said Wednesday, citing the country’s intelligence agency.
Legislators also said that some 600 North Korean troops had been killed that fight for Russia against Ukraine for a total deployment of 15,000.
