North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong, crossing into China via a newly opened bridge, according to South Korean officials.
Kim’s arrival on Saturday comes roughly a week after China and North Korea officially opened the new bridge, which had been completed 12 years ago. The opening is expected to strengthen economic and trade connections between China and its nuclear-armed neighbour.
The visit also takes place one day before the anniversary of China’s entry into the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953.
According to Reuters, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Kim in Dandong. South Korean officials said Kim entered China through the New Yalu River Bridge, which connects Dandong with North Korea. South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency also reported the visit, citing a government source.
Neither Chinese authorities nor the foreign ministry immediately provided an official comment on Kim’s arrival.
Strengthening Relations With China
Analysts view the visit as another indication of Kim’s increasingly assertive foreign policy. North Korea has been seeking closer strategic relationships with both China and Russia as tensions with the United States and its allies continue.
The New Yalu River Bridge is seen as an important symbol of improving China-North Korea relations. Stretching approximately 3 kilometres across the Yalu River, the four-lane bridge is designed to support continuous two-way traffic, including container shipments and heavy cargo vehicles.
Although construction of the bridge was completed in 2014, its opening was delayed for years because North Korea had not completed the necessary connecting roads and customs infrastructure.
The bridge is now expected to remove a major logistical obstacle to trade between the two countries. Chinese experts believe improved transportation infrastructure could contribute to further growth in bilateral commerce.
China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and one of its most important sources of economic, political and diplomatic support.
However, North Korea has strengthened its relationship with Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This closer relationship with Moscow has reduced, to some extent, Pyongyang’s dependence on Beijing.
Kim’s previous known visit to China took place in September 2025, when he travelled to Beijing to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and met Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In June 2026, Xi Jinping made a rare state visit to North Korea. During the visit, Beijing expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Pyongyang across areas including trade, agriculture, construction and technology.
Kim has also described relations with China as a major strategic priority, suggesting that despite North Korea’s growing ties with Russia, Beijing remains an important partner for Pyongyang.