China and North Korea held a ceremony on Thursday opening a new bridge connecting the Chinese city of Dandong with Sinuiju, North Korea, a project intended to increase trade and transport capacity between the two countries. The opening concludes a project that faced more than a decade of delays after its initial construction.
The ceremony for the New Yalu River Bridge took place on Oct. 15, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency. State media footage showed trucks decorated with Chinese and North Korean national flags crossing the four-lane span.
In a video address reported by Xinhua, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called the bridge a “new landmark” of the countries’ “traditional friendship.” He stated both sides should use the opening to deepen connectivity and explore new areas of cooperation. North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song also delivered a video message at the event.
The 1.8-mile (3-kilometer) road bridge is designed to supplement the nearby Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge. The older structure, which accommodates both rail and vehicle traffic, is limited to one-way crossings. According to Chinese data, more than 70% of official trade between China and North Korea has passed through the older crossing.
Construction on the Chinese side of the New Yalu River Bridge was finished around 2014. However, corresponding infrastructure on the North Korean side was not completed, and the bridge remained unopened. During the delay, some analysts suggested potential reasons included North Korean concerns over economic dependence on China or disagreements over the crossing’s location.
The opening follows a recent move by North Korea and Russia to launch a road bridge connecting their countries. Western officials have stated that North Korea has supplied Russia with conventional weapons for its war in Ukraine in exchange for other assistance.
China remains North Korea’s primary economic partner. Last year, trade with China accounted for approximately 98% of North Korea’s total external trade. Analysts have noted that while the new bridge is expected to improve logistical efficiency for bilateral trade, overall economic activity remains subject to international sanctions against North Korea related to its nuclear and missile programs.
