Kim Jong-un Crosses New Yalu Bridge to Visit China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday. He crossed the New Yalu River Bridge, a route that has been under construction for over a decade.

According to South Korea's unification ministry and China's Xinhua news agency, Kim met with Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of the Communist Party of China. The two men toured a local car factory during the visit. Wang accompanied Kim to the bridge later in the day to see him off.

Kim stated that North Korea is ready to work with China to expand practical cooperation. He said the goal is to deliver tangible benefits to the people of both countries. This visit occurs ahead of the October 25 anniversary of China's first major victory in the Korean war in 1950.

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that traffic controls were implemented around the bridge and a nearby war museum. Hotel bookings in the area were also restricted. Diplomatic sources told the agency these measures were tied to the visit by the North Korean official.

The 3km bridge opened in mid-October after a 12 year wait. China completed its side of the construction years ago, but delays on the North Korean side held up the opening. In early September, North Korea and Russia opened the first road bridge across their shared border. This means Pyongyang now has road links to both of its main geopolitical backers.

This is Kim's sixth visit to China. His previous trip was in September 2025, when he attended a military parade in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi visited Pyongyang in June, his first trip to the country in seven years.

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