Kim Jong-un has traveled to China over a newly opened bridge, marking the North Korean leader’s first known trip abroad in more than a year. South Korean officials confirmed the visit on Saturday, noting that Kim arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong in Liaoning province.
A government source told the Yonhap news agency that Kim took a train from Pyongyang to Sinuiju before crossing the New Yalu River Bridge. The Chinese premier, Li Qiang, also traveled to the city for the occasion. The trip was not announced in advance and remained unconfirmed by Pyongyang or Beijing by Saturday evening.
New Yalu River Bridge Operations
The 3km bridge opened in mid-October, ending a long delay that kept the structure idle for over a decade. China finished building the crossing 12 years ago, but construction on the North Korean side stalled for years. The bridge now provides a direct rail link between the two nations, supplementing the road bridge across the short border with Russia that opened in early September.
Security measures were tight around the crossing. Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported that traffic controls were imposed near the bridge and at a museum dedicated to China’s role in the Korean War. Hotel bookings in the area were also restricted. Diplomatic sources told Kyodo that these measures were linked to a visit by a senior North Korean official.
Diplomatic Context and Regional Tensions
This visit comes as relations between North Korea and South Korea have deteriorated significantly. Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister, has issued approximately 10 statements criticizing Seoul since late September. South Korea’s unification ministry described this frequency of criticism as unusual. Kim Yo Jong has also announced plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts at the border within days.
The timing of the trip coincides with the anniversary of China’s entry into the 1950-53 Korean War on the North’s side, which China will mark on Sunday. This is Kim’s sixth visit to China and his first since September 2025, when he attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi visited Pyongyang in June, his first trip there in seven years.
Looking toward the end of the year, Xi will host the Apec summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. This event has fueled speculation about a potential meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump. However, Reuters reported on Friday that US and South Korean officials see little chance of such a meeting occurring this year.
Source: The Guardian
