Kim Jong Un Inaugurates New China-North Korea Bridge During Diplomatic Visit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China to open a new border bridge, signaling a strategic shift to strengthen ties with Beijing amid global tensions.
POLICY WIRE — Dandong, China — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to China on Saturday to preside over the opening of a new bridge linking the two nations, marking his first visit to the country in a year.
The trip underscores a pivot in Pyongyang’s foreign policy as Kim seeks to solidify a united front with Beijing and Moscow against the United States, a dynamic he describes as a new Cold War.
According to reports from South Korea’s Unification Ministry and China’s Xinhua News Agency, Kim arrived in the border city of Dandong via the newly inaugurated crossing.
During his stay, Kim paid his respects at a memorial dedicated to Chinese support during the 1950-53 Korean War. He stated that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will “firmly carry forward the invincible DPRK-China friendship forged at the cost of blood all the time,” as cited by the North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim held discussions with Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of China’s Communist Party. Wang delivered greetings from President Xi Jinping and noted that Kim’s visit to the memorial held great significance for the future of bilateral relations.
The two officials also toured a local car factory before Wang saw Kim off at the bridge. Reflecting on the infrastructure project, Kim remarked that the bridge would undoubtedly and correctly fulfill its historic mission of linking the two countries and firmly joining the minds of the peoples of the two countries.
This diplomatic outreach follows a period where Kim prioritized relations with Russia, including the deployment of thousands of troops and conventional weapons to support Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. China is now moving to reassert its traditional influence over its neighbor, while Kim seeks to balance his alliances.
Kim’s previous visit to Beijing occurred in September 2025, where he joined President Xi and other international leaders to observe a military parade.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
