World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
China-North Korea bridge to open after more than a decade of delays
The New Yalu River Bridge is set to open Thursday between China and North Korea.
It links Dandong in northeastern China with Sinuiju in North Korea and spans about three kilometres.
The four-lane road bridge was completed in 2014, but it remained unused for more than a decade.
North Korea had not finished roads and customs facilities needed to connect the bridge to its side of the border.
The existing bridge between the countries is older and has limited capacity, so the new one is intended to provide another route for cross-border traffic.
China is North Korea’s largest trading partner and a major ally, and the opening comes as the two countries seek closer ties.
The bridge is expected to support more trade and exchanges, though it is not yet clear how much traffic will use it.
The New Yalu River Bridge linking China and North Korea is set to open on Oct. 15, according to Chinese state media.
The four-lane bridge connects Dandong in northeastern China with Sinuiju in North Korea.
It was completed in 2014 but remained unused for years because infrastructure on the North Korean side was unfinished.
The bridge is expected to boost trade and exchanges between the two countries and provide an alternative to the existing Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge.
The opening follows a June summit at which Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping pledged to deepen bilateral ties.
- Who
- China and North Korea.
- What
- The New Yalu River Bridge is set to open to traffic. It is expected to support trade and exchanges.
- When
- Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026.
- Where
- Between Dandong, China, and Sinuiju, North Korea.
- Why
- It is expected to boost trade and exchanges and serve as an alternative to the existing bridge.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Construction of the four-lane bridge began, according to Yonhap.
Construction was completed, but the bridge remained unused.
Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping pledged to raise bilateral ties to a strategic level and enhance exchanges at a summit in Pyongyang.
The bridge is scheduled to open, according to Chinese state media.
- Bridge
- New Yalu River Bridge
- Route
- Dandong, China, to Sinuiju, North Korea
- Opening date
- Oct. 15, 2026
- Construction completed
- October 2014
- Length
- 3,024 meters according to Yonhap; 3,026 meters according to the Straits Times
- Lanes
- Four
7 sources
China-North Korea bridge set to open more than a decade behind schedule
New China-N. Korea bridge to open Thurs., 12 yrs after completion: Xinhua
New China-North Korea bridge to open on Oct 15: Chinese state media
New cross-border bridge between N. Korea, China to open Thurs.: report
中朝新鸭绿江大桥将开通