N. Korea's Kim arrives in China's Dandong via newly opened bridge

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Dandong, China, via the New Amnok River Bridge on Saturday, a government source said. A ruling party source said his visit was expected to be brief, with a major anniversary commemoration scheduled for the following day. The bridge linking Sinuiju and Dandong opened this month after years of delay. Kim’s visit came ahead of the anniversary of Chinese troops’ participation in the Korean War.

The four-lane bridge stretches 3,026 meters and was completed in 2014 with about $310 million in Chinese investment.

The bridge’s opening had been delayed because North Korea had not completed connecting roads and customs facilities on its side.

North Korea and China observe Oct. 25 as the anniversary of Chinese troops’ participation in the Korean War, marking their first combat with U.N. forces.

Kim last visited China in September 2025, and Saturday’s visit was his sixth to the country.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang was said to have traveled to Dandong. China is scheduled to host the APEC summit in Shenzhen next month, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend.

Published Oct 24, 2026 3:31 pm KST

Updated Oct 24, 2026 5:55 pm KST

This file image from footage aired on March 23 by North Korea's Korean Central TV shows leader Kim Jong-un attending a session of its rubber-stamp parliament, Pyongyang. Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has arrived in China's border city of Dandong via a newly opened bridge linking the two nations, a government source said Saturday.

The government source told Yonhap News Agency that Kim arrived in Dandong after taking the bridge across the Amnok River, also known as the Yalu River in China.

Kim "arrived in Dandong, in China's Liaoning Province, via the New Amnok River Bridge," the source said.

A separate source from the ruling party said Kim appears likely to return home later Saturday, saying there would be little reason for him to stay longer in the Chinese city solely for the bridge-opening ceremony, with a major anniversary commemoration scheduled for the following day.

"This China visit is expected to be very short," the source said.

The bridge, which links North Korea's border city of Sinuiju with China's Dandong, was opened this month after 12 years of construction, highlighting its potential to strengthen economic ties between Pyongyang and Beijing.

The four-lane bridge, stretching 3,026 meters, was completed in 2014 with an investment of about $310 million from China. Its opening had been delayed for years due to North Korea's failure, if not refusal, to complete building connecting roads and customs facilities on its side.

Kim's arrival in Dandong came a day before North Korea and China are set to celebrate an anniversary of Chinese troops' participation in the 1950-53 Korean War.

Pyongyang and Beijing have observed Oct. 25 as the anniversary of Chinese troops' participation in the Korean War to aid North Korea. The day marked Chinese soldiers waging their first combat with the U.N. forces.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang was said to have traveled to Dandong.

Kim last visited China in September 2025. Saturday's visit marked his sixth to China.

Next month, China is set to host a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Shenzhen, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend.

Trump has expressed hopes to hold talks with the North Korean leader, but Pyongyang has remained unresponsive.

据朝鲜政府消息人士透露，朝鲜最高领导人金正恩周六经由新鸭绿江大桥抵达中国丹东。一位执政党消息人士称，金正恩此次访问预计较为短暂，因为第二天将举行重要的纪念活动。连接新义州和丹东的这座大桥在历经多年延误后于本月正式通车。金正恩此次访问正值中国人民志愿军参加朝鲜战争周年纪念日前夕。

这座四车道大桥全长 3026 米，于 2014 年竣工，中国投资约 3.1 亿美元。

由于朝鲜方面尚未完成其境内的连接道路和海关设施，这座大桥的通车被推迟了。

朝鲜和中国将10月25日定为中国军队参加朝鲜战争的周年纪念日，这标志着中国军队首次与联合国军并肩作战。

金正恩上一次访问中国是在2025年9月，周六的访问是他第六次访问中国。

据称，中国国务院总理李强访问了丹东。中国将于下月在深圳主办亚太经合组织峰会，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普预计将出席。

发布于2026年10月24日下午3:31（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月24日下午5:55（韩国标准时间）

这张资料图片来自朝鲜中央电视台3月23日播出的画面，显示朝鲜最高领导人金正恩在平壤出席橡皮图章式最高人民会议。韩联社

一位政府消息人士周六表示，朝鲜领导人金正恩已通过连接两国的一座新开通的大桥抵达中国边境城市丹东。

政府消息人士告诉韩联社，金正恩乘桥跨越鸭绿江（在中国也被称为鸭绿江）抵达丹东。

消息人士称，金正恩“经由新鸭绿江大桥抵达中国辽宁省丹东市”。

执政党的另一位消息人士称，金正恩很可能在周六晚些时候返回朝鲜，并表示他没有理由仅仅为了参加大桥开通仪式而留在朝鲜，因为第二天还将举行重要的周年纪念活动。

消息人士称：“预计此次访华行程将非常短暂。”

连接朝鲜边境城市新义州和中国丹东的大桥在历经 12 年建设后于本月通车，凸显了其加强平壤和北京之间经济联系的潜力。

这座四车道大桥全长3026米，于2014年竣工，中国投资约3.1亿美元。由于朝鲜未能（甚至拒绝）在其境内完成连接道路和海关设施的建设，该桥的通车被推迟了多年。

金正恩抵达丹东的前一天，朝鲜和中国将庆祝中国军队参加1950-53年朝鲜战争周年纪念日。

平壤和北京将10月25日定为中国军队参与朝鲜战争援助朝鲜的纪念日。这一天标志着中国军队首次与联合国军并肩作战。

据称中国总理李强曾前往丹东。

金正恩上一次访问中国是在2025年9月。周六的访问是他第六次访华。

下个月，中国将在深圳主办亚太经合组织峰会，预计美国总统唐纳德·特朗普将出席。

特朗普曾表示希望与朝鲜领导人举行会谈，但平壤方面一直没有回应。