Kim Jong Un Crosses New Yalu River Bridge Into Dandong for Talks With China's Premier Li Qiang

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong on October 24, traveling via the New Yalu River Bridge that links Dandong with North Korea's Sinuiju. The crossing marks a notable first use of the newly opened bridge by Kim, with a South Korean government source confirming he reached Dandong by that route. The bridge, which connects the two cities that together account for roughly 70 percent of bilateral trade, had only opened on October 15 after years of delay due to unfinished road and border facilities on the North Korean side.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang traveled to Dandong to receive Kim, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. The meeting signals a continued warming in Beijing-Pyongyang relations that preceded the bridge's opening and elevates the visit beyond a routine crossing, with China's second-ranked official making the trip to the border city rather than hosting Kim in Beijing.