Bridge construction underway as Russia, DPRK boost partnership
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Russia and the DPRK have begun the construction of a new road bridge that spans the Tumen River.
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Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin takes part in a ceremony, dedicated to the start of the construction of a new road bridge between Russia and the DPRK via a video link from Moscow, Russia, April 30, 2025 (Sputnik/Pool)
Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have begun building a long-planned road bridge over the Tumen River. At a ceremony marking the start of construction, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called the project a major step forward in bilateral relations.
The 850-meter (2,789-foot) span will connect to Russia’s highway network and is expected to be completed by summer 2026, according to Russian business daily Kommersant. The new bridge is being built near the existing "Friendship Bridge", a railway crossing constructed in 1959 after the Korean War.
According to the TASS news agency, Mishustin said, “The significance goes far beyond just an engineering task. It symbolizes our common desire to strengthen friendly, good-neighbourly relations and increase inter-regional cooperation.”
The project was agreed upon during President Vladimir Putin’s 2024 visit to the DPRK. Once operational, it is expected to facilitate increased trade and logistics between the two nations.
Mishustin added that the bridge “will allow entrepreneurs to significantly increase transportation volumes and reduce transportation costs, ensure reliable and stable supplies of various products, which will contribute to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation,” according to TASS.
Strengthing ties: DPRK confirms troop deployment in Ukraine
In related news, on Monday, the DPRK confirmed it had deployed troops to Ukraine, supporting Russia in regaining control of the Kursk region. Ukrainian officials estimate that about 14,000 DPRK troops were sent, including 3,000 reinforcements.
South Korean lawmakers said Wednesday that around 600 DPRK troops have been killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, citing intelligence from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.
According to The Guardian, however, Zelensky has reported that around 4,000 DPRK soldiers have been killed or wounded, while US estimates are significantly lower, at approximately 1,200.
ISW continues to assess that North Korea's ability to learn and integrate lessons from fighting alongside Russian forces will likely be significantly degraded if the Russian military command uses North Korean troops in highly attritional infantry-led assaults in similar or… https://t.co/MODmX0t9Lx pic.twitter.com/yuzp4jPPfj
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) January 12, 2025
The DPRK's confirmation of troop deployment comes after months of silence and is seen as a move to strengthen its alliance with Russia. The timing suggests a potential upcoming summit between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. The US and South Korea have condemned the deployment, with the US asserting it violates UN Security Council resolutions and prolongs the conflict in Ukraine.
