Kim Jong Un Opens Delayed Yalu Bridge to China
North Korea's leader crossed a 3km link to Dandong, marking the sixth time he has visited Beijing's ally.
By Yasmin Duda ·
The new road link between North Korea and China opened to traffic on Saturday as Kim Jong Un crossed the border into Dandong. South Korea's unification ministry and China's Xinhua news agency confirmed the arrival. The bridge, which spans the Yalu River, connects the two nations directly by land.
During the visit, Kim met with Wang Huning, a member of China's Communist party standing committee. The two toured an automotive factory and pledged to deepen bilateral ties. Kim stated that North Korea is prepared to expand practical cooperation with China to provide tangible benefits to both populations. Wang accompanied Kim to the bridge for his departure.
The 3km bridge opened in mid-October after a 12 year wait. China finished construction long ago, but delays on the North Korean side postponed the opening. This development follows the opening of a road bridge between North Korea and Russia in early September. Those two routes now link Pyongyang by road to its primary strategic partners.
The timing of the trip aligns with the 25 October anniversary of China's first major victory in the Korean war. That battle occurred days after Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River in October 1950. Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that traffic controls were implemented around the bridge and a nearby war museum. Hotel bookings in the area were also restricted in preparation for the visit.
This is Kim's sixth visit to China. His last trip was in September 2025, when he attended a military parade in Beijing with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Xi visited Pyongyang in June, marking his first trip there in seven years. Meanwhile, relations with South Korea have deteriorated. Kim Yo Jong, Kim's sister, has issued roughly 10 critical statements toward Seoul since late September. South Korea's unification ministry called this frequency unusual. She also announced plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts at the border within days.
Xi is set to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on 18 and 19 November. That event has sparked speculation about a potential meeting between Kim and Donald Trump. However, Reuters reported on Friday that US and South Korean officials see little chance of such a meeting occurring this year.
Source: The Guardian
