North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the New Yalu River Bridge into the Chinese border city of Dandong to meet with high-ranking Beijing officials, marking a symbolic push to expand trade and economic ties between the two nations.
The visit shows Beijing and Pyongyang are trying to strengthen their bilateral relationship, following two summits between their leaders in the past 13 months. China remains North Korea’s main diplomatic and economic backer, accounting for most of its official trade.
Crossing the New Yalu River Bridge
Mr. Kim arrived in Dandong via the newly opened bridge connecting China’s Dandong New Zone and North Korea’s Sinuiju, according to a South Korean government official speaking on condition of anonymity. Footage from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed Mr. Kim walking across the three-kilometer structure while crowds of people waved flags.
The three-kilometer infrastructure project serves as the most significant land border crossing between the two countries. It was officially opened this month after a long delay caused by strained ties and pandemic-related disruptions.
Christopher Green, a Korea specialist at Leiden University in the Netherlands, noted that the visit signified official backing for expanded commerce.
"Kim has given his imprimatur to bilateral trade by crossing the New Yalu River Bridge to enter China," Mr. Green said.
Paying Tribute at the Korean War Memorial
During the trip, Mr. Kim was accompanied by Wang Huning, China’s fourth-highest-ranked official, who conveyed greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.
Mr. Wang and Mr. Kim visited a Korean War memorial in Dandong, where the supreme leader of North Korea honored the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army members who fought alongside North Korean forces in the 1950–53 war. Mr. Kim also toured a Dandong automobile factory during his itinerary.
Lu Chao, an expert in China-North Korea relations at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, a government think-tank in Shenyang, said the timing of the visit aligns with a phase of frequent high-level exchanges.
"The opening of the bridge has resolved a major bottleneck in China-North Korea trade logistics," Mr. Lu said. "With the logistics constraint eased, bilateral trade is likely to increase further."
China Seeks to Expand Trade with North Korea
During their meeting on Saturday, Mr. Wang told Mr. Kim that China is ready to use the bridge’s inauguration to expand personnel exchanges and trade cooperation, Xinhua reported. The infrastructure is expected to facilitate the movement of heavy equipment, raw materials, and energy products necessary for North Korea’s development.
While the visit points to closer economic cooperation, analysts point out that North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine have raised questions regarding Pyongyang’s reliance on Beijing. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that Mr. Kim was expected to return to North Korea following Saturday’s engagements.