North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has crossed into China and reached the border city of Dandong over a newly opened bridge, according to a South Korean government source. A South Korean news agency quoted the source as saying, “Kim arrived in Dandong through the New Yalu River Bridge earlier in the day.”
The visit took place on Saturday, about a week after the bridge linking the two countries was officially opened. The structure was finished 12 years earlier, and the crossing adds to deepening economic ties between the neighbours.
China remains North Korea’s key trading partner
China is North Korea‘s largest trading partner and a major source of diplomatic, economic and political support for the reclusive state. The relationship has not always been smooth, however.
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Years of delay before the bridge opened
The four-lane bridge was completed in 2014, but its opening was held up by a lack of connecting roads and customs facilities on the North Korean side, according to South Korean news reports.
Kim’s previous trip and Xi’s visit to Pyongyang
Kim’s last known visit to China was in September 2025, when he attended the 80th Victory Day celebrations in Beijing and held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi later made a state visit to North Korea in June, which was seen as a sign of improving ties.
