Kim Jong Un crosses into China over the new Yalu bridge

Seoul Economic Daily reported on 24 October that the 4-lane bridge links Dandong, the largest trade hub between the two countries, with the North Korean city of Sinuiju. Construction finished in 2014, but the lack of an access road and customs facility on the northern side delayed the opening by 12 years. The bridge formally entered service on 15 October 2026. A Reuters report carried by Nikkei Asia says the 3 km crossing was designed to move the heavy equipment, raw materials and energy products North Korea needs. Reports citing Kyodo say heavy traffic controls were in place around the bridge and the Korean War museum in Dandong on the morning of 24 October.

This is Kim's first visit to China in about 1 year; the previous one was a trip to Beijing in September 2025 for the 80th Victory Day ceremonies. Xi Jinping paid a state visit to North Korea in June 2026. Seoul Economic Daily notes that Kim met Xi on all 5 of his trips to China since 2011. This time, a Xi–Kim summit had not been confirmed as of the evening of 24 October. The visit fell on the eve of 25 October, the 76th anniversary of China's entry into the Korean War.

Whom Kim met in Dandong could not be verified. One related headline in the same outlet, citing a South Korean lawmaker, points to Premier Li Qiang; another points to China's number 4 official. In Seoul, the Defence Ministry proposed formal military talks to the North on 23 October. The agenda is to verify the position of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL, the land border drawn by the 1953 armistice), reopen military hotlines and prevent accidental clashes. AP says mine blasts on 21 September wounded 3 South Korean soldiers, and Northern troops crossed the line 50 times in 2026. A similar proposal in November 2025 went unanswered. The Korea Times and AP give different names and titles for the official who announced it.