New cross-border bridge between N. Korea, China to open Thursday: report

The New Yalu River Bridge connecting Sinuiju in North Korea and Dandong in China will open Thursday after remaining unused for more than a decade. China’s Xinhua News Agency reported that an opening ceremony will be held that day. The 3,024-meter, four-lane bridge is expected to increase trade and personnel exchanges and ease congestion on the existing Friendship Bridge.

Construction of the New Yalu River Bridge began in October 2011 and was completed in October 2014.

The bridge remained unused because North Korea had not completed buildings and infrastructure on its side.

Vehicles were recently seen crossing the bridge, raising the possibility that a test run had taken place.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged at their June summit in Pyongyang to raise bilateral ties to a strategic level and enhance exchanges.

The existing Friendship Bridge opened in 1943 and has long served as the main crossing over the Yalu River.

Published Oct 14, 2026 1:15 pm KST

Updated Oct 14, 2026 1:42 pm KST

New Yalu River Bridge is seen on Oct. 6. Yonhap

A bridge between North Korea and China will officially open to traffic this week after sitting idle for more than a decade following its construction, according to a Chinese news report on Wednesday.

The New Yalu River Bridge, which connects the North Korean city of Sinuiju and Dandong in China, will open Thursday, according to China's Xinhua News Agency.

There will be an opening ceremony on that day, the report said.

The entrance to the New Yalu Bridge can be seen from Liaoning Province, China, Oct. 5. Yonhap

The construction of the four-lane motor bridge began in October 2011 and wrapped up in October 2014, but it stood unused for years because North Korea did not finish the buildings and infrastructure on its side.

Vehicles have recently been spotted crossing the 3,024-meter bridge, raising the possibility of a test run.

The bridge, which is expected to boost trade and personnel exchanges between the two countries, opens after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged at their June summit in Pyongyang to raise their ties to a strategic level and enhance exchanges.

It would supplement the existing Friendship Bridge, which opened in 1943 and has long been the main crossing over the Yalu River.

The new bridge is expected to ease congestion on the old, one-way road linking the two countries.

连接朝鲜新义州和中国丹东的新鸭绿江大桥在闲置十余年后，将于周四正式通车。据新华社报道，通车仪式将于当日举行。这座全长3024米、四车道的大桥预计将促进贸易和人员往来，并缓解现有友谊桥的交通拥堵状况。

新鸭绿江大桥于2011年10月开工建设，2014年10月竣工。

由于朝鲜方面尚未完成其一侧的建筑物和基础设施建设，这座桥梁一直处于闲置状态。

最近有人看到车辆驶过这座桥，这让人怀疑是否进行了试运行。

朝鲜领导人金正恩和中国国家主席习近平在6月于平壤举行的峰会上承诺，将双边关系提升到战略水平，加强交流。

现有的友谊大桥于 1943 年建成通车，长期以来一直是横跨鸭绿江的主要通道。

发布于2026年10月14日下午1:15（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月14日下午1:42（韩国标准时间）

10月6日，新鸭绿江大桥竣工。（韩联社）

据中国新闻媒体周三报道，连接朝鲜和中国的桥梁在建成后闲置十多年后，将于本周正式通车。

据中国新华社报道，连接朝鲜新义州和中国丹东的新鸭绿江大桥将于周四通车。

报道称，当天将举行开幕式。

10月5日，从中国辽宁省可以看到新鸭绿江大桥的入口。（韩联社）

这座四车道公路桥于 2011 年 10 月开工建设，2014 年 10 月竣工，但由于朝鲜方面没有完成其一侧的建筑物和基础设施建设，这座桥闲置了多年。

最近有人看到车辆驶过这座 3024 米长的桥梁，这让人怀疑是否进行了试运行。

这座桥梁预计将促进两国之间的贸易和人员交流。此前，朝鲜领导人金正恩和中国国家主席习近平在6月于平壤举行的峰会上承诺将两国关系提升到战略水平，并加强交流。

它将与现有的友谊大桥形成互补，友谊大桥于 1943 年通车，长期以来一直是鸭绿江上的主要通道。

预计这座新桥将缓解连接两国的旧单行道的交通拥堵状况。