China and North Korea Open Long-Delayed Trade Bridge

China and North Korea have officially opened the New Yalu River Bridge, a 3,026-metre, four-lane crossing connecting Dandong in China with Sinuiju in North Korea. The opening took place 12 years after construction was completed in 2014. The bridge remained unused because roads and customs facilities on the North Korean side had not been completed. Hundreds of people gathered in Dandong to watch lorries begin crossing in both directions; some trucks were decorated with flags and flowers from both countries. The new crossing is expected to support efforts to revive trade following strained bilateral relations and pandemic-era border restrictions. It should make freight transport easier and reduce dependence on the ageing Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, which has carried much of the countries’ cross-border traffic since 1943. Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University, estimated that the new bridge could increase cargo traffic by three or four times, particularly for heavy machinery and construction materials. China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and an important economic ally. Residents in Dandong hope the bridge will generate more business and improve living standards on both sides of the border. However, the reopening of freight connectivity does not mean all cross-border travel has resumed: North Korea has yet to restart tourist visas for Chinese visitors.

China and North Korea have opened the long-delayed New Yalu River Bridge, a 3km road crossing connecting Dandong, in northeastern China, with Sinuiju, North Korea. The opening ceremony, reported by China’s Xinhua news agency, featured trucks bearing both countries’ flags. Chinese Premier Li Qiang called the bridge a new landmark in their traditional friendship and urged greater connectivity and cooperation in border areas; North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song also addressed the ceremony by video. The bridge is expected to relieve pressure on the ageing Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, which carries both rail and road traffic but can accommodate only one-way traffic at a time. More than 70 percent of official trade between China and North Korea currently passes through that older crossing. The new bridge was completed on the Chinese side around 2014, but construction on the North Korean side did not proceed, leaving the project stalled for more than a decade. The delay prompted speculation about Pyongyang’s concerns over dependence on China, disagreement with Beijing’s support for United Nations sanctions, or disputes over the crossing’s location. Dandong residents and Chinese state-linked media had publicly expressed frustration about the holdup. The opening comes about a month after North Korea and Russia launched a road bridge of their own, amid closer cooperation. Western officials say North Korea has supplied troops and conventional weapons for Russia’s war in Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. Although Kim Jong Un has visibly strengthened ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years, he has also moved to draw closer to China, apparently seeking economic recovery and a stronger alliance against the United States. China remains North Korea’s main economic lifeline: about 98 percent of North Korea’s external trade was with China last year. Analysts expect the new bridge to improve logistics and potentially boost bilateral trade, though international sanctions continue to constrain economic engagement.

The New Yalu River Bridge, a 3km road link between Dandong in China and Sinuiju in North Korea, has opened after a 12-year delay, according to Chinese state media. Originally expected to launch in 2014, the bridge was postponed after North Korea stopped work on connecting roads and customs facilities amid deteriorating relations with Beijing. Chinese Premier Li Qiang described the opening as a symbol of traditional friendship and a new chapter in bilateral ties. The bridge is expected to become the main land route for trade between the two countries, complementing the older Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, built during Japan’s occupation of the region.

China and North Korea have officially opened the New Yalu River Bridge, their most significant land border crossing, in a move intended to revive trade and increase exchanges between the neighboring countries. The opening ceremony took place more than a decade after the cable-stayed bridge was completed in 2014. It had remained unused because roads and other connecting infrastructure on the North Korean side were unfinished. The COVID-19 pandemic and North Korea’s border closures caused further delays. The bridge’s opening comes amid signs of renewed engagement between Beijing and Pyongyang. Train journeys between the countries resumed in March after a six-year pause, although North Korea has not yet restarted tourist visas for Chinese visitors, who previously made up most of its foreign tourists. Chinese Premier Li Qiang described bilateral relations as entering a “new phase” and said the crossing would promote economic and trade cooperation and strengthen people-to-people exchanges. Analysts expect the bridge to facilitate the movement of goods, including heavy equipment and raw materials that North Korea needs for development. A researcher cited by AFP said hundreds of vehicles could cross daily and that Chinese goods and resources could provide a significant boost to North Korea’s economy. However, another expert cautioned that the bridge is unlikely to bring an immediate return to pre-sanctions trade. North Korea may also remain wary of becoming more dependent on China. China is already North Korea’s largest trading partner. Trade remains constrained by United Nations sanctions imposed in response to North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programs. The bridge therefore represents a potentially important improvement in transport links, but it does not by itself resolve the political and economic restrictions shaping cross-border commerce.

The France 24 business roundup reports that China and North Korea formally opened the long-delayed Yalu River Bridge on Thursday. The bridge connects Dandong, in China, with Sinuiju, in North Korea. Beijing says the new connection is intended to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. The report presents the opening as its lead story but provides no further details about the bridge’s construction, capacity, or expected traffic. The roundup also describes reported financial results from Anthropic. The artificial intelligence company told prospective investors that its third-quarter revenue increased 45 percent from the previous quarter, reaching $16.8 billion. Those figures were disclosed at an investor briefing in San Francisco while Anthropic prepares for a potential stock market listing. The report notes that investors and markets are scrutinizing the substantial spending required to build AI infrastructure. Anthropic had not publicly commented on the reported revenue figures at the time of the report. The final item concerns Uganda’s monetary policy. Uganda’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate to 12 percent as higher global oil prices and a weaker Ugandan shilling contribute to inflation. Because Uganda is landlocked and imports all of its oil, the country is particularly exposed to changes in global crude prices, which affect transport and energy costs. Together, the three items cover cross-border trade, investment in artificial intelligence, and inflation-related monetary policy. The roundup is attributed to Charlotte Lam and was issued on October 15, 2026.