Russia builds first road bridge to North Korea
North Korea and Russia have started building a bridge that will be the first ever road link between the two countries.
Satellite images showed work has begun on both banks of the Tumen River, close to the Russian border town of Khasan.
Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian prime minister, took part in an opening ceremony via a video link, with Kremlin media quoting him as saying that the project will be a 'big milestone for Russian-Korean relations'.
The bridge 'symbolises our comment intention to strengthen neighbourly relations, to boost trans-regional cooperation', Mr Mishustin said.
Moscow and Pyongyang are rapidly ramping up military and economic cooperation, with the hermit kingdom this week confirming for the first time it had sent troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine.
'Sacred mission'
Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator, said the deployment was a 'sacred mission for further consolidating as firm as a rock' relations between the internationally-isolated states.
According to Russian state media, the new bridge will be a little over half-a-mile mile long and construction will take 18 months to complete.
It will stand around 400 yards downstream from a railway bridge that has served as the two nations' only land link since 1959.
'The construction of the road bridge will contribute to laying an eternal foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and put on track comprehensive new development', said Pak Thae-song, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
The bridge will greatly increase the flow of goods across the border, as well as enabling North Korea to send additional troops and equipment to support the units already fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
It is widely believed that Moscow has paid for that support by sending military technology to North Korea.
Pyongyang on Friday launched the 4,500-tonne destroyer Choe Hyon, with state media saying tests of its weapons systems were conducted this week. The warship is understood to be armed with cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and a 5-inch bow gun.
Analysts in South Korea said many of the vessel's systems — including its advanced missiles, radar and integrated air defences – closely resemble Russian designs.
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un signed a comprehensive strategic treaty in June 2024, which Pyongyang has cited to justify its commitment of troops to the war in Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said on Monday that Russia would provide military assistance to North Korea should it be needed.
South Korean intelligence reported on Wednesday that around 600 North Korean troops have been killed fighting for Russia, with more than 4,000 injured.
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