Kim Jong-un crossed into China via the New Yalu River Bridge, arriving in the border city of Dandong in Liaoning province after traveling by train from Pyongyang through Sinuiju, South Korean government sources said on Saturday. The trip was not announced in advance and had not been confirmed by either Pyongyang or Beijing as of Saturday evening. Chinese premier Li Qiang was also reported to be in the city at the time.
The crossing marks Kim’s sixth visit to China and his first since September 2025, when he attended a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The New Yalu River Bridge, spanning 3 kilometers, opened in mid-October after being completed by China 12 years prior but delayed by North Korean-side obstacles. This crossing comes as North Korea has recently strengthened connectivity with its allies, having opened the first road bridge with Russia in early September.
The timing of Kim’s visit coincides with China marking the anniversary on Sunday of its entry into the 1950-53 Korean war on North Korea’s behalf. Japanese news reports indicated that traffic controls were implemented around the bridge and near a war museum, with hotel bookings restricted in the area. Diplomatic sources linked these security measures to the visit by a senior North Korean official.
Meanwhile, relations between North and South Korea have grown tense. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has issued approximately 10 statements criticizing Seoul since late September, with South Korea’s unification ministry describing the frequency as unusual. Plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts at the border have also been announced.
The visit has generated speculation about a potential meeting between Kim and incoming US president Donald Trump, particularly as Chinese president Xi Jinping prepares to host the Apec summit in Shenzhen on 18-19 November. However, Reuters reported that US and South Korean officials assess there is minimal likelihood of such a meeting occurring this year.
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