Kim Jong Un enters China via new Dandong bridge — SkimNews
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- Kim Jong Un arrived in Dandong, China, via a newly opened bridge, according to a South Korean government source cited by Yonhap.
- China and North Korea officially reopened their major land border crossing in Dandong this month to revive trade after years of strain and pandemic disruptions.
- Kim Jong Un last visited China in September 2025 for Beijing’s 80th Victory Day celebrations, where he held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
- Xi Jinping visited North Korea in June, signaling a diplomatic thaw between the two countries after a period of strained relations.
- Donald Trump is seeking renewed talks with North Korea, but U.S. and South Korean officials see diminishing prospects for a meeting with Kim this year.
- China will host the APEC summit next month in Shenzhen, an event Trump is expected to attend, potentially setting the stage for trilateral dynamics.
Why it matters: Kim’s visit via a newly operational bridge signals tangible progress in China-North Korea relations, with trade and high-level diplomacy resuming after years of isolation. The timing, ahead of APEC and amid stalled U.S.-North Korea talks, strengthens Beijing’s regional leverage while leaving Washington sidelined in a key diplomatic corridor.
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