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.

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.