North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China across a newly opened border bridge
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made his first China visit in about a year Saturday, crossing the newly opened Yalu River bridge into Dandong. South Korea’s Unification Ministry and Xinhua reported his arrival. He visited a Korean War memorial and met Wang Huning, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Standing Committee. CNN said analysts saw deepening ties.
More context
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China on Saturday, crossing the newly opened Yalu River bridge linking the two countries on his first reported visit there in about a year. South Korea’s Unification Ministry and China’s Xinhua News Agency said Kim arrived in Dandong after crossing the bridge. In the city, he visited a memorial to China’s support for North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War and met Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of China’s Communist Party. The Independent reported that Kim also toured a bus factory and received a send-off at the bridge, which it said was completed in 2014 but had remained unused for more than a decade. The Independent said Kim praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s leadership and international influence. CNN said analysts viewed the bridge and visit as signs of closer ties.
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Reporting
- Facebook — 74K views · 454 reactions | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed a newly opened bridge connecting North Korea and China on Saturday, marking Kim's first reported visit to China in over a year. Analysts say the bridge, and the visit, suggest deepening ties between the two neighbors. Read more: https://cnn.it/4kdB3kj | CNN
- the-independent.com — Kim Jong Un returns from China visit praising Xi as North Korea seeks closer ties with Beijing | The Independent
- asahi.com — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits China to inaugurate a new cross-border bridge | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Verifier’s note
The Independent, CNN, and Asahi all report Kim’s recent China visit and crossing of the newly opened bridge, consistent with the proposed event. The reports are dated October 25–26, 2026, so the event is not stale.