Story perspectives

Kim Jong-un arrives in China via reopened Yalu Bridge

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 10:17 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Bridge revives ties

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Dandong via the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge on Saturday.
Wang Huning delivered President Xi Jinping’s greetings, pledging that the two sides will expand trade and people-to-people exchanges through the bridge.
The bridge, completed in 2014, was inaugurated a week earlier after a decade of disuse.
Kim said North Korea is ready to work with China to deliver benefits to peoples.

Left

Logistics bottleneck solved

Kim Jong-un arrived in Dandong via the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge on Saturday.
Coverage highlighted traffic controls and hotel-booking restrictions around the bridge and nearby war museum, stressing public disruption.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Kim in Dandong, according to Korean officials cited by Reuters.
Experts say the bridge resolves a major trade-logistics bottleneck, potentially boosting bilateral commerce despite sanctions.

History

Historical Context

The Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, built by the Japanese army between 1937 and 1943 and repaired after Korean-War bombings, still carries more than 70 % of China-North Korea trade (2020). Its 2026 successor, the New Yalu River Bridge, hosted Kim Jong-un’s visit, while Premier Li Qiang and Wang Huning promoted deeper commerce, echoing past infrastructure-driven trade boosts.

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Bridge revives ties

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Dandong via the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge on Saturday.
Wang Huning delivered President Xi Jinping’s greetings, pledging that the two sides will expand trade and people-to-people exchanges through the bridge.
The bridge, completed in 2014, was inaugurated a week earlier after a decade of disuse.
Kim said North Korea is ready to work with China to deliver benefits to peoples.

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