China and North Korea have officially opened a long-delayed bridge connecting the two countries, in a move aimed at boosting trade and improving economic ties after years of strained relations and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 3km New Yalu River Bridge, linking the North Korean city of Sinuiju with China’s Dandong New Zone, became operational on Thursday, October 15, 2026, more than a decade after its completion in 2014.
Trucks carrying Chinese and North Korean flags were seen around the crossing ahead of its opening, while crowds gathered on the Chinese side to witness the development.
The bridge’s cable-stayed structure features towering pylons, but construction work on access roads and a customs facility on the North Korean side remained incomplete.
China’s state news agency, Xinhua, reported that the two countries held an opening ceremony on Thursday. However, North Korean state media had yet to report on the scheduled event at the time of the report.
The opening marks a potential improvement in relations between Beijing and Pyongyang, following two meetings between their leaders in the past year.
China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner, despite United Nations sanctions imposed over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme and missile development.
Although China and Russia previously supported the sanctions, both countries have questioned the legitimacy and effectiveness of the restrictions in recent years.
Analysts, however, believe the bridge’s opening may not immediately restore trade to pre-sanctions levels, as North Korea remains cautious about becoming increasingly dependent on China.
“The bridge is unlikely to lead immediately to a full-scale return to pre-sanctions trade,” said Lim Eul-chul at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies.
He added that the new crossing could facilitate the transportation of heavy equipment, raw materials and energy products required for North Korea’s development projects.
China’s exports to North Korea increased by 25 per cent to $2.3bn in 2025, reaching their highest level in six years.
Despite the growth, the figure remained significantly below the levels recorded before the United Nations tightened sanctions in 2017.
Russia has also faced accusations from the United States and South Korea of providing sensitive military assistance to North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang’s support for its war in Ukraine.
