Kim Jong-un opens new trade route to China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday to officially open a new crossing over the Yalu River. According to South Korea's unification ministry and China's Xinhua news agency, the trip marked the inauguration of a physical link that had been under construction for over a decade.

The new structure spans 3km across the river. China finished building its side of the project 12 years ago, but delays on the North Korean side prevented the bridge from opening until mid-October. This completion connects Pyongyang by road to Beijing, adding to a new road bridge opened between North Korea and Russia in early September.

During his stay, Kim met with Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of China's Communist party. The two men toured a car factory before visiting the bridge. Xinhua reported that Kim stated North Korea is ready to expand practical cooperation to provide tangible benefits to both populations. Wang accompanied the North Korean leader to the crossing point before Kim departed.

The timing of the visit aligns with the October 25 anniversary of China's first major victory in the Korean war. That battle followed Chinese troops crossing the Yalu River into North Korea in October 1950. Japan's Kyodo news agency noted that traffic controls were implemented around the bridge and a nearby war museum. Hotel bookings in the area were also restricted in preparation for the visit.

This is Kim's sixth trip to China and his first since September 2025. During that previous visit, he attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian president Vladimir Putin. Xi reciprocated the diplomatic exchange by visiting Pyongyang in June, marking his first trip to the North in seven years.

Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have deteriorated in recent weeks. Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, has issued approximately 10 public statements criticizing the South Korean government since late September. South Korea's unification ministry described this frequency of criticism as unusual. She also announced plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts at the border within days.

Speculation continues about a potential meeting between Kim and US president Donald Trump ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. However, Reuters reported on Friday that US and South Korean officials believe the chance of such a meeting occurring this year is low.