North Korea and Russia open first street bridge as Putin and Kim Jong Un deepen ties

North Korea and Russia opened their first street bridge on Monday, Russia’s TASS state information company reported, a construction which spans the Tumen river and which each side forged as an essential milestone of their strategic partnership.

The bridge is situated close to the present “Friendship Bridge,” a rail bridge which was commissioned in 1959 after the Korean Warfare.

There are already direct air and rail hyperlinks between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin mentioned the bridge ought to spur growth between the 2 international locations in numerous spheres – together with tourism – and create new jobs.

“I’m satisfied that the growth of cross-border transport infrastructure will present a strong impetus for the additional growth of commerce, financial, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation,” TASS cited Mishustin as saying on the bridge’s opening ceremony by way of video hyperlink.

Development of the brand new bridge, which had been below dialogue for years, started in April final yr after its building was agreed throughout a go to by President Vladimir Putin to North Korea in 2024.

The 2 international locations’ ties have grown stronger for the reason that begin of the warfare in Ukraine in 2022 with Pyongyang sending hundreds of troops to Russia’s Kursk area to assist repel a 2024 Ukrainian incursion there.