Kim Jong Un Crosses New Yalu Bridge Into China

Kim Jong Un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday after crossing the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge, South Korea's unification ministry and China's state news agency Xinhua reported.

He met Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of China's Communist party, and the two toured a car factory. They promised to strengthen relations between their countries. Xinhua quoted Kim as saying 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 then went with Kim to the bridge to see him off.

Timing and the bridge

The visit looks timed to show the strength of Kim's ties with Beijing before 25 October, the anniversary of China's first major victory in the Korean war. That came days after Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River into North Korea in October 1950. Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that traffic controls had been set up around the bridge and near a museum on China's role in the war, and that hotel bookings nearby were restricted. Diplomatic sources told Kyodo the measures were linked to a visit by a senior North Korean official.

The 3km bridge opened in mid-October, 12 years after China finished building it. Delays on the North Korean side held it up. In early September North Korea and Russia opened the first road bridge across their own short border, so Pyongyang is now linked by road to both of its main backers.

This is Kim's sixth visit to China and his first since September 2025, when he joined Chinese president Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at a military parade in Beijing. Xi visited Pyongyang in June, his first trip there in seven years.

Seoul and Washington

Relations with South Korea have worsened. Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, has issued about 10 statements criticising Seoul since late September, a frequency the unification ministry has called unusual. She has also announced plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts at the border within days.

Xi will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on 18-19 November, which has fuelled speculation about a meeting between Kim and Donald Trump. Reuters reported on Friday that US and South Korean officials see little chance of Kim meeting the US president this year.

Source: The Guardian