New Yalu River Bridge connects Dandong in northeastern China with Sinuiju in North Korea
China and North Korea on Thursday officially opened a long-delayed bridge linking their border cities, reviving a major trade route after more than a decade of stalled construction and signalling renewed efforts to strengthen economic ties.The four-lane, 3-km New Yalu River Bridge connects Dandong in northeastern China with Sinuiju in North Korea. Officials from both countries attended the opening ceremony virtually, while trucks bearing Chinese and North Korean flags waited on the bridge.
Chinese premier Li Qiang said the two countries’ relationship had entered a “new stage”, describing the crossing as a landmark of their traditional friendship.
North Korean premier Pak Thae Song said the bridge would help advance prosperity and improve people’s well-being, according to the countries’ state media.The opening comes as Pyongyang has strengthened its ties with Moscow, including through military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, prompting questions about Beijing’s influence over its longstanding ally.
A decade-long delay
The bridge was completed on the Chinese side in 2014 and was initially expected to open that year.
But work on the North Korean side stalled, leaving the crossing unused for more than a decade. The delay fuelled speculation that Pyongyang was wary of becoming more dependent on Beijing or unhappy with China’s support for United Nations sanctions over North Korea’s nuclear programme.The new crossing is expected to ease pressure on the ageing Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, built in 1943, which carries more than 70% of official trade between the two countries.
The older bridge accommodates rail and road traffic, but vehicles can cross in only one direction at a time.
Even before the new bridge opened, Chinese traders were reportedly rushing to move cargo across the old crossing. A report by Daily NK said shipments surged after China’s National Day holiday, as traders sought to send goods before the new route began operating amid fears of steep tolls and other fees.Authorities have not announced the new bridge’s toll rates.
Traders are expected to weigh the cost of using the wider crossing against the older route, meaning improved capacity may not automatically translate into cheaper shipments.
Beijing seeks to retain its influence
China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and a vital economic lifeline. About 98% of North Korea’s external trade was with China in 2025, according to figures cited in the reports.But Kim Jong Un has increasingly prioritised ties with Russia, sending troops and conventional weapons to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine, apparently in exchange for military and economic assistance.
The opening of a road bridge between Russia and North Korea last month underscored that growing partnership.The New Yalu River Bridge could help Beijing reinforce its economic role as Pyongyang broadens its external partnerships. Analysts say it may improve logistics and facilitate trade, although its impact will depend on how the crossing is used and what charges authorities impose.The opening marks a practical change for cross-border commerce and is also a test of how Beijing and Pyongyang manage a relationship shaped by economic dependence, political interests and North Korea’s growing engagement with Moscow.