Kim Jong Un crosses new bridge into China — SkimNews
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- Kim Jong Un crossed the New Yalu River Bridge into Dandong on October 24, marking his first known visit to China since 2025 and underscoring strengthened bilateral relations.
- Wang Huning conveyed greetings from Xi Jinping to Kim Jong Un and accompanied him to a Korean War memorial and an automobile factory in Dandong.
- China and North Korea officially opened the 3km New Yalu River Bridge in October, aiming to ease transport of heavy equipment, raw materials, and energy between the two countries.
- Christopher Green noted that Kim’s crossing of the bridge signals Pyongyang’s endorsement of expanded trade, reversing years of logistical dysfunction in the relationship.
- Lu Chao stated the bridge’s opening removes a major bottleneck in China-North Korea trade logistics, paving the way for increased bilateral commerce.
- US and South Korean officials see diminishing prospects for a 2026 meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, despite Trump’s expressed interest in renewed talks.
Why it matters: The bridge’s opening and Kim’s visit signal a material upgrade in China-North Korea trade capacity, with direct implications for North Korea’s access to energy and industrial supplies. This deepening economic alignment occurs as diplomatic avenues with the US appear to stall, shifting leverage toward Beijing.
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