Kim Jong-un inaugurates new Yalu River bridge during Dandong trip
The North Korean leader crossed a 3km span to China for a visit that Beijing timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1950 intervention in the Korean war.
By Nikolai Morales ·
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Dandong, China, on Saturday after crossing the New Yalu River Bridge. He joined Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of the Communist Party of China, to tour a car factory. The two men pledged to strengthen bilateral ties during the visit.
Xinhua news agency reported that Kim stated North Korea is prepared to expand practical cooperation with China. He said the goal is to deliver tangible benefits to the populations of both nations. Wang accompanied Kim to the bridge to see him off after the factory tour.
The 3km bridge opened in mid-October, twelve years after China finished construction. Delays on the North Korean side previously stalled the project. This opening follows the completion of a road bridge across the North Korean-Russian border in early September. These projects now link Pyongyang by road to its two primary backers.
The timing of the trip aligns with the October 25 anniversary of China's first major victory in the Korean war. That victory occurred days after Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River into North Korea in 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.
This is Kim's sixth visit to China. His previous trip occurred in September 2025, when he attended a military parade in Beijing with President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi visited Pyongyang in June, marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
Relations between North Korea and South Korea have deteriorated. Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, has issued approximately ten statements criticizing Seoul since late September. South Korea's unification ministry described the frequency of these remarks as unusual. She announced plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts at the border within days.
President Xi is scheduled to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. This event has raised speculation about a potential meeting between Kim and US President 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
