The two countries have vowed to expand bilateral relations after North Korea sent troops and weapons in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

North Korea and Russia are already connected by a railway bridge and the two isolated nations agreed in June 2024 to construct a bridge for automobiles over the Tumen river, which runs along North Korea’s borders with Russia and China.

North Korea said the construction of a new bridge linking it to Russia is a "significant" development of relations between the two countries, state media KCNA reported on Thursday.