North Korea and Russia have begun building their first road link, the two countries said, hailing the construction of a bridge over a border river as a major development that will boost ties.

The bridge would be 1-km-long and its construction is expected to take 18 months, expanding cross-border travel and trade. Relations and exchange programmes between the two countries have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying ammunitions and troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.