Kim Jong Un’s New Bridges Link North Korea to China and Russia

WHO:

IJR - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in China.

The Guardian - The New Yalu River Bridge links China and North Korea; the Yakov Novichenko Bridge links North Korea and Russia.

The Guardian - Carla Freeman is director of the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies; Justin Hastings is a professor of international relations and comparative politics at Sydney University; Fyodor Tertitskiy is a North Korea expert at Korea University in Seoul; Leif-Eric Easley is a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

The Guardian - Kim Jong-un has sent ammunition and as many as 16,000 troops to support Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

The Guardian - The article identifies China as North Korea’s biggest trading partner and aid donor.

WHAT:

IJR - Kim arrived in China via the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge. The purpose of the trip and whether he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping were unclear.

The Guardian - The New Yalu River Bridge has four lanes, spans 3km (1.9 miles) across the Yalu River, and connects Dandong with Sinuiju. It is expected to ease congestion on the nearby, ageing Friendship Bridge.

The Guardian - Dozens of trucks were crossing the bridge, boosting trade. Analysts expected trade growth to be modest initially.

The Guardian - The Yakov Novichenko Bridge is the first road bridge across the short North Korea–Russia border.

The Guardian - South Korea’s government said at least 17 active road and rail links connect North Korea and China along their 1,400 km-long border.

The Guardian - Kim and Putin held two summits in the past three years; in 2024, they signed a mutual defence pact requiring each country to aid the other if attacked.

The Guardian - The article says Russia and Chinese support for UN sanctions had collapsed, while China’s enforcement had become “desultory” and Russia had “actively repudiated” enforcement, according to Hastings.

WHERE:

IJR - Kim arrived in Dandong, China.

The Guardian - The New Yalu River Bridge crosses the Yalu River between Dandong, in northeastern China, and Sinuiju, North Korea.

WHY:

IJR - The visit came amid attention to economic ties and possible U.S.–North Korea diplomacy; its purpose was not reported.

The Guardian - Freeman said China’s interest in strengthening its influence in North Korea was reinforced by North Korea’s growing relationship with Russia.

The Guardian - Easley said Kim could use gains from Moscow to seek additional benefits from Beijing; he said China may seek to restore influence through increased trade and people-to-people exchanges.

HOW:

The Guardian - The bridge provides a road route for truck traffic between China and North Korea.

The Guardian - Tertitskiy said Kim seeks autonomy and may play China and Russia against each other; he also said increased foreign access could reduce incentives for domestic reform.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 09:59 UTC)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has arrived in Dandong, China, crossing on the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge. The four-lane road bridge spans the Yalu River between Dandong and North Korea’s Sinuiju, and dozens of trucks are already using it. It is expected to ease pressure on the older Friendship Bridge and support trade, though growth may be modest at first. The purpose of Kim’s visit is unclear, as is whether he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. China is North Korea’s biggest trading partner and aid donor, while Kim has also strengthened ties with Russia, sending ammunition and as many as 16,000 troops to support its war in Ukraine. Analysts say Beijing may seek to rebuild its influence through trade and exchanges, while Kim could use his ties with Moscow to gain benefits from both countries.