Kim Jong Un enters China over new Yalu bridge, met by Premier Li Qiang
North Korea's leader crossed the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge into Dandong on October 24, his first trip to China in over a year, a day before the Korean War anniversary.
At a glance
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed into the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday, October 24, 2026, using the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge, South Korea's Unification Ministry said.
- Chinese Premier Li Qiang greeted him on arrival, according to South Korean government sources; Seoul expects the visit to be very short, with Kim returning home the same day.
- The trip comes a day before October 25, the anniversary of Chinese troops entering the 1950–53 Korean War, and is Kim's first visit to China since September 2025.
- The four-lane, 3.03 km bridge between Dandong and Sinuiju was finished in 2014 but stayed closed for more than a decade; it officially opened on October 15.
- The visit also undercuts online rumours about Kim's health that South Korea's intelligence service told lawmakers on Friday were unfounded.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed into China on Saturday, October 24, 2026, driving over the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge into the border city of Dandong in Liaoning province, South Korea's Unification Ministry said. Chinese Premier Li Qiang greeted him on arrival, according to South Korean government sources, in a brief visit timed for the eve of the anniversary of China's entry into the Korean War.
What happened
Seoul's Unification Ministry confirmed that Kim "arrived in Dandong" by the new bridge. A government source said Li Qiang, China's number-two leader, was there to receive him. Earlier on Saturday, strict traffic restrictions in parts of Dandong had fuelled speculation that a senior North Korean figure was about to cross.
A source in South Korea's ruling party said the trip would be "very brief" and that Kim was expected to return to North Korea later the same day. "What matters is whom he meets while in China, and that remains to be seen," the source said. No details of talks or agreements had been released by Saturday afternoon Pakistan time.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
| Place | Dandong, Liaoning province, China |
| Route | New Yalu (Amnok) River Bridge from Sinuiju |
| Greeted by | Chinese Premier Li Qiang (per South Korean sources) |
| Expected length | Same-day return, per Seoul |
| Kim's last China trip | September 2025 |
| Visits to China as leader | Sixth |
The bridge
The New Yalu River Bridge is a four-lane road crossing about 3.03 km (1.88 miles) long, linking Dandong, the main hub for China–North Korea trade, with Sinuiju in North Pyongan province. China invested around $310 million and finished construction in 2014.
The bridge then stood unused for more than a decade because the North Korean side had not built connecting roads and customs facilities. It officially opened on October 15, 2026. Analysts see the opening as a sign that Pyongyang wants to deepen trade with Beijing at a time when its ties with Moscow have grown sharply since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Background
October 25 marks the day in 1950 when Chinese troops entered the Korean War to support North Korea, their first combat with United Nations forces. Both governments mark the date every year, and anniversaries of the "blood alliance" are often used for high-level contact.
Kim's last trip to China was in September 2025, when he attended a military parade in Beijing. Saturday's crossing is his first visit in more than a year and his sixth to China since he took power.
The visit also follows a burst of online rumours about Kim's health. South Korea's National Intelligence Service told the National Assembly's intelligence committee in a closed-door session on Friday that the rumours of his death were unfounded. North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported this week that Kim presided over a two-day military meeting in Pyongyang on Wednesday and Thursday, where he called for building the "world's strongest armed forces."
Reactions
South Korean officials have so far only confirmed the arrival and the expected short length of the trip. Beijing and Pyongyang had not issued statements on the visit by Saturday afternoon; both usually announce leader-level meetings after they have taken place.
Why it matters
Any meeting between Kim and senior Chinese leaders is watched closely across Asia. China is North Korea's main trading partner and economic lifeline, and a new road link could increase cross-border trade despite United Nations sanctions.
The timing is also significant. China will host the APEC summit in Shenzhen next month, and US President Donald Trump, who is expected to attend, has said he hopes to resume talks with Kim before the end of the year. Pyongyang has not responded publicly. Closer Beijing–Pyongyang contact could shape whether any US–North Korea meeting happens.
For South Asia, a calmer Korean Peninsula matters mainly through markets and shipping: tension around Korea has in the past rattled Asian stock markets and the semiconductor supply chain that Pakistani and Indian importers rely on.
What happens next
- October 25: China and North Korea mark the 76th anniversary of China's entry into the Korean War; state media in both countries are expected to report on any Kim–Li talks.
- Later on October 24: Kim is expected to return to North Korea, according to Seoul.
- November: APEC leaders' summit in Shenzhen, China, where Trump is expected; any sign of a Trump–Kim meeting would be the next big development.
Questions people are asking
Why did Kim Jong Un go to China on October 24, 2026?
Kim crossed into Dandong a day before the anniversary of China's entry into the Korean War on October 25, 1950, which both countries commemorate. He was greeted by Premier Li Qiang, and South Korean officials say the brief visit also showcases the newly opened bridge and closer economic ties with Beijing.
What is the New Yalu River Bridge?
It is a four-lane road bridge about 3.03 km long linking China's Dandong with North Korea's Sinuiju across the Yalu (Amnok) River. China paid roughly $310 million for it and finished it in 2014, but it only opened on October 15, 2026, after North Korea completed its roads and customs facilities.
Is Kim Jong Un alive?
Yes. Kim appeared in public and crossed into China on October 24, 2026, and South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers a day earlier that rumours of his death circulating on social media were unfounded.
