3km Yalu Bridge Opens as Kim Crosses to Dandong
The North Korean leader inaugurated the new link twelve years after construction finished, citing a desire for tangible benefits from expanded cooperation with Beijing.
By Ji-eun Choi ·
A 3km bridge spanning the Yalu River opened to official traffic in mid-October, marking the end of a twelve year delay that stalled the project after China completed its side of construction. The new structure connects the two nations directly by road, a link that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un crossed on Saturday to enter the Chinese border city of Dandong.
South Korea's unification ministry and China's Xinhua news agency confirmed the arrival. Upon reaching Dandong, Kim met with Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of China's Communist party. The two men toured a local car factory and pledged to strengthen bilateral ties. Xinhua reported that Kim said North Korea "stands ready to work with China to carry forward their historical friendship and expand practical cooperation, thereby delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries".
Wang accompanied Kim to the bridge to see him off, according to the agency. The timing of the visit coincides with the October 25 anniversary of China's first major victory in the Korean war. That military success followed the crossing of the Yalu River by Chinese troops in October 1950.
Japan's Kyodo news agency noted traffic controls around the bridge and a museum dedicated to China's role in the conflict. Hotel bookings in the vicinity were also restricted. Diplomatic sources told Kyodo that these measures were tied to the visit by the senior North Korean official.
This development follows the opening of the first road bridge across the short border between North Korea and Russia in early September. Pyongyang is now connected by road to both of its main strategic backers. The Dandong trip is Kim's sixth visit to China and his first since September 2025, when he attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Xi visited Pyongyang in June, his first trip there in seven years.
Relations with Seoul have deteriorated during the same period. Kim Yo Jong, Kim's sister, has issued approximately ten statements criticizing South Korea since late September. The unification ministry described the frequency of these remarks as unusual. She also announced plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts at the border within days.
Speculation about a meeting between Kim and Donald Trump has grown ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. However, Reuters reported on Friday that US and South Korean officials see little chance of such a meeting occurring this year.
Source: The Guardian
