Kim Jong-un crosses 3km bridge to China 12 years after construction began
The North Korean leader arrived in Dandong on Saturday to open a new trade link, a move timed just days before the 75th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday after crossing a newly completed 3km bridge over the Yalu River. The trip marks the inauguration of a direct road link between the two nations that was originally finished by Chinese engineers 12 years ago but sat unused due to delays on the North Korean side.
South Korea's unification ministry and China's Xinhua news agency confirmed the arrival. During his visit, Kim met with Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of the Chinese Communist Party. The two officials toured a car factory in Dandong. Xinhua reported that Kim stated North Korea is ready to expand practical cooperation to provide tangible benefits to both populations. Wang accompanied Kim back to the bridge to see him off after the meeting.
The timing of the visit 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 into North Korea in October 1950. Japan's Kyodo news agency noted that traffic controls were established around the bridge and a nearby war museum. Hotel bookings in the area were also restricted, with diplomatic sources telling Kyodo that these measures were tied to the visit by a senior North Korean official.
The opening of the Yalu bridge follows the launch of a road bridge between North Korea and Russia in early September. This development means Pyongyang now has direct road access to its two primary backers. The infrastructure shift occurs while relations with South Korea continue to deteriorate. Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, has issued roughly 10 critical statements toward Seoul since late September. South Korea's unification ministry described this frequency of communication as unusual. She also announced plans to restart loudspeaker broadcasts at the border within days.
This is Kim's sixth trip to China and his first since September 2025. He previously attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Xi visited Pyongyang in June for his first trip there in seven years. Speculation has grown regarding a potential meeting between Kim and US president Donald Trump, fueled by the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on 18-19 November. Reuters reported on Friday that US and South Korean officials see little chance of such a meeting occurring this year.
