New Yalu River Bridge Opens, Connecting China and North Korea

Chinese state media announced the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge, which links Dandong, China, to Sinuiju, North Korea, on Thursday. This project, reportedly completed back in 2014, faced delays due to the pandemic and the resulting diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Xinhua, the official state news outlet, mentioned that Premier Li Qiang, who plays a significant role in domestic policy under Xi Jinping, acknowledged the bridge opening in a recorded message. Li called the event a positive indicator of strengthening China-North Korea relations, particularly in terms of economic connections that have been hampered by international sanctions.

According to Li, “The bridge is bound to become a new landmark symbolizing the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK [North Korea].” He emphasized the bridge’s potential to improve port clearance, enhance connectivity, and foster cooperation in border areas, ultimately benefiting both nations.

Li further proposed that China is ready to increase “political mutual trust” and engage in more “practical cooperation” with North Korea.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its approval of the bridge’s opening. When asked about the bridge’s availability on Thursday, spokeswoman Mao Ning confirmed and highlighted the importance of the relationship with North Korea, stating, “China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers.”

Images of the bridge, which looked pristine and operational, were shared by CGTN, a Chinese state television network, on Thursday.

The excitement surrounding the bridge, which is expected to significantly increase traffic across the Yalu River, wasn’t matched on the North Korean side at the time of reporting. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) had not published anything about the bridge’s opening, which isn’t unusual given their tendency to delay major news updates.

This delay may stem from the cooling relationship between China and North Korea that followed the pandemic. The South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo noted that the New Yalu River Bridge had been completed years prior but remained unopened. It seems the construction, largely funded by China, was stalled because North Korea lacked the necessary infrastructure to handle increased traffic.

In April 2019, a different, smaller bridge was opened, connecting Manpo, North Korea, with Jian, China. This opening occurred after sanctions were imposed in response to North Korea’s nuclear activities. Interestingly, this bridge had also been finished two years before it debuted for use.

The pandemic prompted North Korea to close its borders completely, leading to a strict policy under Kim Jong-un. Reports indicated he issued extreme measures along the borders to prevent anyone from entering the country.

During this period, Kim seemed to shift away from China and foster closer ties with Russia, calling Putin his “closest comrade” and signing a defense agreement in 2024 that sent North Korean troops to assist during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Although Kim and Xi have recently worked on rebuilding their relationship, Kim has shown a preference for Russia in his foreign policy pursuits.

Earlier this year, Xi made a visit to North Korea, emphasizing the importance of rebuilding trust between the two countries, aligning with Li Qiang’s sentiments during the bridge inauguration. Despite these thawing relations, it appears that Kim’s focus remains more on Moscow.