North Korea, Russia aim to open new road bridge soon, KCNA says

North Korea and Russia aim to open a road bridge connecting the countries across the Tumen River as soon as possible, North Korean state media KCNA said on Thursday, as the neighbouring countries forge closer ties.



The project, which began about a year ago, is "an important business" to boost bilateral cooperation including tourism, trade and the movement of people, KCNA said.



Construction of the 850-metre bridge, which will connect to Russia's highway system, was agreed during a 2024 visit to North Korea by President Vladimir Putin.



Russia and North Korea held a ceremony on Tuesday to mark the joining of the bridge, the Moscow Times reported.



It is being built near the existing "Friendship Bridge", a rail bridge which was commissioned in 1959 after the Korean War.



KCNA said an opening ceremony would be held soon, without specifying a date. The Russian embassy in Pyongyang wrote on Telegram that the bridge would be completed on June 19.