Kim Jong-un opens direct road link to Dandong after 12-year delay
North Korea’s leader crossed a new 3km bridge to meet Chinese official Wang Huning, marking his first trip to China in 13 months.
By Christopher Reed ·
Kim Jong-un crossed the New Yalu River Bridge on Saturday, arriving in the Chinese border city of Dandong. This trip marks the first time the North Korean leader has used the newly opened structure to enter China. South Korea's unification ministry and China's Xinhua news agency confirmed the arrival.
Kim met with Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of China's Communist party. The two officials toured a car factory together. During the meeting, Kim pledged to expand practical cooperation with Beijing. Xinhua quoted Kim as saying North Korea stands ready to carry forward their historical friendship and deliver tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.
Wang accompanied Kim to the bridge to see him off, according to Xinhua. The timing of the visit aligns with the upcoming October 25 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.
The 3km bridge opened in mid-October. It took 12 years to complete after China finished its construction, with delays occurring on the North Korean side. This new link follows the opening of the first road bridge across the short border between North Korea and Russia in early September. Pyongyang now has direct road connections to both of its main geopolitical backers.
This is Kim's sixth visit to China and his first since September 2025. He previously attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi visited Pyongyang in June, marking his first trip to the North in seven years.
Relations with South Korea have deteriorated recently. Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, issued approximately 10 statements criticizing Seoul since late September. South Korea's unification ministry described this frequency as unusual. She also announced plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts at the border within days.
Japan's Kyodo news agency reported traffic controls around the bridge and a museum dedicated to China's role in the war. Nearby hotel bookings were restricted. Diplomatic sources told Kyodo these measures were tied to the visit. Xi will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. Reuters reported on Friday that US and South Korean officials see little chance of Kim meeting Donald Trump this year.
Source: The Guardian
