DANDONG: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made an unannounced visit to China on Saturday, October 24, crossing the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge into the Chinese border city of Dandong.
The visit was confirmed by South Korean government sources and reported by international news agencies. It marks another significant step in relations between Pyongyang and Beijing amid efforts to strengthen economic cooperation and strategic ties.
During the visit, Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the country’s fourth-ranking political figure, accompanied Kim and conveyed greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency.
Kim also visited a memorial and museum dedicated to China’s participation in the Korean War and toured an automobile factory in Dandong. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also attended the visit, according to South Korean media reports.
The visit highlights the significance of the New Yalu River Bridge, a four-lane crossing connecting Dandong in China’s Liaoning Province with Sinuiju in North Korea.
The approximately three-kilometre bridge was completed in 2014 with Chinese funding of about $310 million but remained unused for 12 years because connecting roads and customs infrastructure on the North Korean side were unfinished. It officially opened on October 15, 2026, and is expected to facilitate cross-border trade, transport and the movement of people.
Kim’s visit comes as China and North Korea seek to deepen their longstanding relationship following recent high-level exchanges between Kim and Xi.
The two countries have pledged to expand trade, strengthen strategic communication and enhance cooperation. With China remaining North Korea’s principal economic partner, the opening of the bridge and Kim’s visit to Dandong signal renewed efforts to improve connectivity and bilateral relations.
The visit also comes ahead of the anniversary of Chinese forces’ entry into the Korean War on October 25.