Environment
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong via the new Yalu River Bridge. According to South Korean officials, the development comes as the two countries continue efforts to expand trade and economic c
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong via the new Yalu River Bridge. According to South Korean officials, the development comes as the two countries continue efforts to expand trade and economic cooperation. According to the news agencies AFP and Reuters, Kim Jong Un arrived in China on Saturday. His arrival came about a week after the official opening of the new Yalu River Bridge, which connects China and North Korea across the Yalu River. The bridge is considered important for improving trade links between the two countries.
Reuters, citing a South Korean official, reported that Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Kim Jong Un in the border city of Dandong. However, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately issue an official statement on the matter. The new Yalu River Bridge is approximately three kilometres long and has four lanes. Its construction was completed in 2014, but its opening was delayed because roads and customs facilities on the North Korean side were not ready.
The bridge is expected to facilitate cross-border traffic around the clock, including containers and trucks carrying heavy goods. Experts believe it could reduce obstacles to the transportation of goods and increase trade between the two countries. Lu Chao, an expert on China–North Korea relations, told Reuters that the opening of the bridge had removed a major bottleneck in the bilateral trading system. According to him, improved logistics and transportation facilities could lead to further growth in trade between the two countries.
