Kim Jong Un Crosses New Bridge into China for Meeting with Premier Li Qiang

Dandong, October 24 (Daily Kiran) : North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday, marking his first known foreign trip in over a year. According to South Korean reports, Kim crossed the newly opened Yalu River bridge that connects China and North Korea.

As reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, Kim traveled by train from Pyongyang to Sinuiju before crossing the newly constructed Amanok River bridge into Dandong, located in Liaoning province. In China, the Amanok River is referred to as the Yalu River.

Sources indicate that Chinese Premier Li Qiang was also in Dandong and reportedly welcomed Kim. However, as of Saturday evening, neither North Korea nor China had officially confirmed Kim’s visit. It remains unclear how long Kim will stay in China, though South Korean sources suggest he may return to North Korea the same day.

China is set to commemorate the anniversary of its military involvement in the Korean War on October 25. During the war, China intervened on behalf of North Korea against the U.S.-led United Nations forces. Although the conflict ended with an armistice in 1953, a formal peace agreement has yet to be established on the Korean Peninsula.

The opening of the new bridge is seen as significant for the growing economic and strategic cooperation between the two nations. The nearly three-kilometer-long and four-lane bridge was inaugurated on October 15. Although construction was completed in 2014, delays in road and customs facility work on the North Korean side had previously prevented its use.

This bridge connects Dandong in China with Sinuiju in North Korea and is expected to enhance cargo transport, trade, and cross-border communication. It may also alleviate pressure on the older China-North Korea Friendship Bridge.

China has long been North Korea’s largest trading partner and a key economic ally, with a substantial portion of North Korea’s external trade dependent on China. The new bridge is likely to boost trade activities, although international sanctions and challenges within North Korea’s economy could hinder expansion.

Kim’s visit comes amid efforts to strengthen ties between Beijing and Pyongyang. In recent years, North Korea has also expanded its military and economic relations with Russia, particularly during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Simultaneously, efforts to reinforce traditional ties with China continue.

Kim last visited China in September 2025, participating in a military parade in Beijing attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This latest visit follows the inauguration of the new bridge and is viewed as a step towards enhancing communication and cooperation between the two countries.