PYONGYANG, Oct. 22 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday held a ground-breaking ceremony for remodeling its Jaedong-Kangdong-Nampho railway at the East Pyongyang Railway Station, reported the official KCNA news agency.

Oleg Shishov, director general of the Russian Bridzh Group, and Won Phil Jong, senior vice-minister of railways of the DPRK, addressed the ceremony.

The project, Pyongyang's first step to materialize large-scale cooperation projects, aims to develop economic cooperation between the two countries, they said.

Both sides expressed satisfaction that the ceremony was held in Pyongyang when this year marks the 66th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

Among attendants of the ceremony were also Ri Ryong Nam, minister of external economic relations of the DPRK, Alexandr Galushka, minister of development of Far East of Russia, and Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexandr Timonin.

Ri Ryong Nam said top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un is paying close attention to boosting the ties with Russia.