Kim Jong-un opens Yalu River crossing in bid to deepen China ties
The North Korean leader inaugurated the 3km bridge connecting Dandong and Sinuiju, signaling a push for expanded trade and military coordination ahead of the November APEC summit.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un officially opened the New Yalu River Bridge on Saturday, marking the first time the two nations are linked by a direct road connection across that waterway.
The 3 kilometer structure connects the Chinese city of Dandong with the North Korean side. South Korea's unification ministry and China's Xinhua news agency confirmed the crossing. Kim arrived in Dandong after traveling the bridge, an infrastructure project that took 12 years to complete due to delays on the North Korean side.
During his visit, Kim met with Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of the Chinese Communist Party. The two toured a local automobile factory and agreed to strengthen bilateral relations. Kim stated that North Korea is prepared to work with China to maintain their historical friendship and expand practical cooperation. He said these efforts should provide tangible benefits to the populations of both countries.
Wang accompanied Kim to the bridge for the leader's departure. Xinhua reported that the visit was timed to mark the 25 October anniversary of China's first major victory in the Korean War. That military success followed Chinese troops crossing the Yalu River into North Korea in October 1950.
Japan's Kyodo News reported that traffic controls were implemented around the bridge and a nearby war museum on Saturday. Hotel bookings in the area were also restricted. Diplomatic sources told the agency that these security measures were linked to the presence of a senior North Korean official.
The new bridge completes a road network that links Pyongyang to its two main geopolitical backers. In early September, North Korea and Russia opened the first road bridge across their shared border. This development allows for continuous land transport between the two nations without air or sea transit.
This is Kim's sixth trip to China. His last visit was in September 2025, when he attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi returned the gesture in June by visiting Pyongyang, his first trip to the North Korean capital in seven years.
Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have deteriorated recently. Kim Yo Jong, the leader's sister, has issued approximately 10 critical statements against South Korea since late September. The unification ministry described this frequency of communication as unusual. She also announced that loudspeaker broadcasts at the border will resume within days.
The visit occurs shortly before the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on 18 and 19 November. The upcoming event has generated speculation about a potential meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump. However, Reuters reported on Friday that US and South Korean officials assess the likelihood of such a meeting this year as low.
