Kim Jong Un Visits China After New Yalu River Bridge Opens, Meets Li Qiang

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly arrived in China's border city of Dandong via the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge on Saturday, October 24, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing government sources. Chinese Premier Li Qiang was also reported to have travelled to Dandong to meet Kim, although North Korean and Chinese authorities had not publicly confirmed the visit at the time of the initial reports.

The reported visit marks Kim's first trip to China since September 2025 and comes amid efforts to strengthen ties with Beijing, North Korea's traditional ally and largest trading partner. It also coincides with the anniversary of China's entry into the 1950–53 Korean War on North Korea's side, observed on October 25.

The New Yalu River Bridge, connecting Dandong in China's Liaoning province with Sinuiju in North Korea, officially opened on October 15, after remaining unused for years following the completion of construction in 2014. The four-lane bridge stretches approximately three kilometres and was built with a Chinese investment of around $310 million. Its opening is expected to improve cross-border trade and the movement of goods, supplementing the older Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge.

Kim's reported crossing highlights the renewed focus on North Korea-China economic cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang in June, where both sides pledged to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in areas including trade, agriculture, construction and technology.

Pyongyang has also strengthened its relationship with Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. North Korea has supplied troops and conventional weapons to support Russia's war effort, potentially in return for economic assistance and military technology. The opening of a road bridge between North Korea and Russia earlier this year has further underscored those growing ties.

The visit comes as tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula. South Korea recently proposed military talks with Pyongyang to clarify the border and restore communication channels following an explosion in the Demilitarised Zone that injured South Korean soldiers. Seoul blamed North Korean landmines, a claim Pyongyang has rejected.

Meanwhile, attention is also turning to the possibility of renewed US-North Korea diplomacy. US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China's Shenzhen next month and has expressed interest in meeting Kim. However, there has been no confirmation of a meeting.