Kim Jong Un Travels to China Over Newly Opened Bridge

WHO:

CNN - A South Korean government official, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed Kim arrived in Dandong via the New Yalu River Bridge.

CNN - Kim Jong Un was accompanied by Wang Huning, China’s fourth-highest-ranked official, who conveyed greetings from President Xi Jinping.

CNN - Christopher Green, a Korea specialist at Leiden University, said, “Kim has given his imprimatur to bilateral trade by crossing the New Yalu River Bridge to enter China.”

CNN - Lu Chao, an expert in China-North Korea relations at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, said the bridge’s opening resolved a major bottleneck in trade logistics.

ABC News World - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China, according to South Korean media reports.

IJR - Kim Jong-un arrived in China; whether he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping was unclear.

WHAT:

Nikkei Asia - Christopher Green said, “It is too early to divine Kim's intentions because he is only in Dandong,” adding, “Will there be a Xi-Kim summit? Probably. It would be surprising if there were not. However, nothing is certain at this stage.”

Nikkei Asia - South Korea’s Unification Ministry spokesperson had no immediate comment, and China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CNN - Kim’s visit followed two summits between Chinese and North Korean leaders in the preceding 13 months.

CNN - Kim’s last known China visit was in September 2025 for Beijing’s 80th Victory Day celebrations, where he held a summit with Xi Jinping.

CNN - Xi Jinping made a state visit to North Korea in June.

CNN - South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that Kim was expected to return to North Korea after the visit.

CNN - Kim paid tribute at a Dandong Korean War memorial to Chinese People’s Volunteer Army soldiers and toured a Dandong automobile factory.

CNN - Wang told Kim China was ready to use the bridge opening to expand personnel exchanges and economic and trade cooperation.

CNN - The New Yalu River Bridge is 3 km (2 miles) long and is expected to facilitate movement of heavy equipment, raw materials and energy products.

ABC News World - South Korean media reported Kim Jong Un’s visit to China.

IJR - Kim Jong-un arrived in China’s border city of Dandong via the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge.

IJR - The visit was his first reported trip to China in about a year.

WHERE:

ABC News World - Kim Jong Un visited China.

IJR - Kim Jong-un arrived in Dandong, a Chinese border city, after traveling across the New Yalu River Bridge.

WHEN:

CNN - China was scheduled to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen next month, which Trump was expected to attend.

ABC News World - The report described the visit as Kim Jong Un’s first trip to China in a year.

IJR - The trip was described as Kim Jong-un’s first reported visit to China in about a year.

WHY:

CNN - Analysts have questioned whether North Korea is becoming less reliant on China because of its deepening military ties with Russia since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

CNN - U.S. and South Korean officials saw fading chances of Trump meeting Kim that year, Reuters reported.

CNN - China and North Korea opened the bridge to rejuvenate trade and commerce after strained ties and pandemic-related disruptions.

CNN - China accounts for most of North Korea’s official trade and remains its main economic and diplomatic backer.

IJR - The trip’s purpose remained unclear.

IJR - The visit came amid attention to economic ties and possible U.S.–North Korea diplomacy.

HOW:

CNN - CCTV footage showed Kim walking across the bridge, which was lined with people waving flags.

IJR - Kim Jong-un traveled to Dandong via the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 19:01 UTC)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in China by crossing the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge into the border city of Dandong. He was accompanied by Wang Huning, a senior Chinese official who conveyed greetings from President Xi Jinping. Kim also paid tribute at a memorial to Chinese soldiers and toured an automobile factory. The 3-kilometer bridge is expected to ease the movement of heavy equipment, raw materials and energy products, helping revive trade disrupted by pandemic restrictions and strained ties. China remains North Korea’s main economic and diplomatic backer. Kim’s visit followed recent exchanges between the leaders, including Xi’s state visit to North Korea in June. Whether Kim will meet Xi during this trip remains uncertain, though an expert said a summit would not be surprising. South Korean media reported Kim was expected to return home after the visit.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 17:03 UTC)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong, crossing the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge. He was accompanied by Wang Huning, a senior Chinese official who conveyed greetings from President Xi Jinping. Kim also paid tribute at a Korean War memorial honoring Chinese soldiers and toured an automobile factory. Wang said China hoped the bridge would support more travel and stronger economic cooperation. Stretching about two miles, the bridge is expected to ease transport of heavy equipment, raw materials and energy products. China remains North Korea’s main economic and diplomatic backer, and the bridge was opened to revive trade after pandemic disruptions and strained ties. Kim’s visit follows recent exchanges between the countries’ leaders, including Xi’s state visit to North Korea. South Korean media reported Kim was expected to return home after the trip.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 16:01 UTC)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge into China, signaling support for stronger trade ties. The crossing brought him to Dandong, a border city, on his first reported visit to China in about a year. China’s Wang Huning, its fourth-highest-ranking official, accompanied Kim and conveyed greetings from President Xi Jinping; whether Kim would meet Xi remained unclear. Kim paid tribute at a memorial to Chinese soldiers killed in the Korean War and toured an automobile factory. Wang said China was ready to expand exchanges and economic cooperation through the bridge. Stretching three kilometers, it is expected to help move heavy equipment, raw materials and energy products. The opening aims to revive trade after strained ties and pandemic disruptions. China remains North Korea’s main trading partner and economic backer.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 10:58 UTC)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in China, crossing the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge into the border city of Dandong. South Korean media reported the visit, which is Kim’s first reported trip to China in about a year. His purpose for traveling there is unclear, and it is not known whether he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit is drawing attention to North Korea’s economic ties with China and comes as observers watch for possible diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. No details have been given about Kim’s itinerary or how long he plans to stay. His arrival by bridge marks a notable route into China, but the available reports do not explain why he chose it. For now, the central questions are what he intends to discuss and whether a meeting with Xi will take place.