China and North Korea open long-delayed four-lane bridge

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 21:03 · Archive

China and North Korea are holding an opening ceremony for a four-lane bridge over the Yalu River, more than a decade late.

China and North Korea are holding an opening ceremony for a long-stalled four-lane road bridge linking their territories over the Yalu River. The bridge stretches approximately 3km, connecting Dandong in northeastern China with Sinuiju in North Korea. The project was originally scheduled to open in 2014 but faced more than a decade of delays.

North Korea failed to complete the buildings needed for customs clearance and border controls, though the reasons for the overall delay have not been disclosed. Possible explanations include disputes between the two governments and North Korea's closure of its borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the bridge would promote economic and trade exchanges. However, experts say that despite the bridge's potential to increase trade, large-scale industrial investment prospects remain limited because of United Nations sanctions on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. The two cities are already linked by the ageing, single-lane Chinese-Korean Friendship Bridge.

Relations between China and North Korea have recently improved. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Beijing in September 2025, and Chinese President Xi Jinping made a return visit to Pyongyang in June this year.

How it is being reported

• China, North Korea open long-delayed four-lane bridgeA four-lane road bridge over the Yalu river linking China and North Korea is set to open more than a decade late.Perth Now · 14 Oct, 20:48
• China, North Korea open long-delayed four-lane bridgeA four-lane road bridge over the Yalu river linking China and North Korea is set to open more than a decade late.The West Australian · 14 Oct, 20:48

In this story: China · North Korea · Yalu River · Dandong · Sinuiju · Kim Jong-un · Xi Jinping · Mao Ning

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem