Russia's prime minister hailed the construction of the first road link with North Korea as a "landmark moment."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his gratitude to North Korean soldiers fighting alongside his forces in Ukraine, describing them as "heroes." It comes hours after North Korea confirmed the deployment of its troops in Ukraine for the first time.

The assessment came two days after North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to help Russia recapture parts of the Kursk region.