North Korea and Russia held a ceremony to mark the linking of a cross-border road bridge over the Tumen River. The Russian Embassy in North Korea on Tuesday said, the bridge is set for completion on 19th June. The two countries began constructing the road bridge in April last year, following a summit meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024.

In a separate statement, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described the bridge as strengthening friendship with North Korea and symbolizing the neighbours’ aspiration to expand regional cooperation, adding that it will boost productive dialogue and exchanges between them. Currently, North Korea and Russia operate only a rail bridge over the Tumen River. The addition of a road bridge comes as Pyongyang and Moscow deepen their alignment since the North’s troop deployment in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine.