(../../../../favicon_aje.ico) China and North Korea to open New Yalu River Bridge, state media reports | Infrastructure News | Al Jazeera    (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/14/china-and-north-korea-to-open-new-yalu-river-bridge-state-media-reports)                                             (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/10/14/china-and-north-korea-to-open-new-yalu-river-bridge-state-media-reports)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/reuters_6acef891-1791948945.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)  (../../../../wp-content/uploads/2026/10/reuters_6acef891-1791948945.jpg@resize=770,513&quality=80)     (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (../../../../static/css/vendor~main~d08ff9cb.24bf1742.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~748942c6.7538e11f.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~b07b7304.e3bc53a0.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~6e6dca10.74fd263a.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~5db14389.9adb4a4c.r2.chunk.css) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Bold.52bb58c8.woff2) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Regular.c5bf51b6.woff2)  (../../../../static/css/vendor~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-blo~5f903362.2e08e417.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~41c72a2c.3f309873.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~06be7c11.0625e98d.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/pages/article-page~493df0b3.accd71c7.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)   Skip links (china-and-north-korea-to-open-new-yalu-river-bridge-state-media-reports@traffic_source=rss.html#main-content-area) Skip to Content  (https://www.aljazeera.com/)          (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Sign up  Show navigation menu     Navigation menu (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News    Show more news sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/africa/) Africa   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/) Asia   (https://www.aljazeera.com/us-canada/) US & Canada   (https://www.aljazeera.com/latin-america/) Latin America   (https://www.aljazeera.com/europe/) Europe   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific      (https://www.aljazeera.com/middle-east/) Middle East   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/explainer/) Explained   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports) Sport   (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinion/) Opinion   (https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/) Video   More   Show more sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/aljazeera-originals) Originals   (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/) Features   (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/) Economy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/human-rights/) Human Rights   (https://www.aljazeera.com/climate-crisis) Climate Crisis   (https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/) Investigations   (https://www.aljazeera.com/interactives/) Interactives   (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) In Pictures   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/science-and-technology/) Science & Technology   (https://www.aljazeera.com/audio/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.aljazeera.com/travel) Travel   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored/) Sponsored Content        (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Click here to search search     Sign up        (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News |(https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/infrastructure/) Infrastructure   China and North Korea to open New Yalu River Bridge, state media reports The long-delayed bridge will formally open on Thursday, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.   Listen   Listen (3 mins)       Save       Share China and North Korea to open New Yalu River Bridge, state media reports on social media share-nodes    Share (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fsf4jt1) facebook      (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=China%20and%20North%20Korea%20to%20open%20New%20Yalu%20River%20Bridge%2C%20state%20media%20reports&source=sharethiscom&related=sharethis&via=AJEnglish&url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fsf4jt1) x    (whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fsf4jt1) whatsapp-stroke    (https://aje.news/sf4jt1)  copylink          google       Add Al Jazeera on Google  info      (FILE PHOTO: The New Yalu River Bridge designed to connect China's Dandong New Zone and North Korea's Sinuiju, as seen from Dandong, Liaoning province, China October 5, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Mandy Leong/File Photo)   The New Yalu River Bridge, designed to connect China's Dandong New Zone and North Korea's Sinuiju, as seen from China on October 5, 2026 [Mandy Leong/Reuters]   By  AFPand Reuters   Published On 14 Oct 2026 14 Oct 2026    China and North Korea will officially open the New Yalu River Bridge to traffic on Thursday, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reports. China completed its side of the bridge in 2014, hoping to boost trade ties. However, North Korea left its side unfinished for years as relations soured after Beijing supported (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/9/12/un-security-council-slaps-new-sanctions-on-north-korea) United Nations sanctions over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/12/north-korea-fires-multiple-ballistic-missiles-towards-the-sea) North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles towards the sea  list 2 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/6/south-korea-considers-steps-to-force-north-korea-apology-for-dmz-mine-blast) South Korea considers steps to force North Korea apology for DMZ mine blast  list 3 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/8/south-korea-pledges-legal-action-over-alleged-fuel-exports-to-russia) South Korea pledges legal action over alleged fuel exports to Russia  list 4 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/8/south-korea-recalls-envoy-to-kyiv-over-diplomatic-row-with-ukraine) South Korea to recall Ukraine envoy in diplomatic row over POWs   end of list  The first bridge connecting Russia and North Korea also (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/7/russia-and-north-korea-deepen-relations-with-symbolic-road-bridge) opened earlier this month. China-North Korea Relations   China’s exports to North Korea rose to a six-year high of $2.3bn last year, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. Chinese President Xi Jinping was (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/9/as-close-as-lips-and-teeth-the-highs-and-lows-of-china-north-korea-ties) welcomed in Pyongyang in June for the first time since 2019. Since 2018, Beijing has tried to repair ties with Pyongyang, which also briefly began (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/5/25/trump-pulls-out-of-summit-with-north-koreas-kim-jong-un) improving relations with Washington around the same time. The (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/8/north-korea-needs-china-for-survival-why-does-beijing-need-pyongyang) China-North Korea relationship was forged during the Korean War. In 1961, the two countries (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/11/sealed-in-blood-where-does-the-china-north-korea-alliance-stand-today) signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which remains China’s only formal military alliance. The treaty contains a mutual defence clause committing either side to assist the other if one comes under armed attack. Although China was North Korea’s main diplomatic partner and protector for decades, relations strained after Beijing in 2017 supported tightening sanctions on Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons programme. Analysts say North Korea’s recent growing relationship with Russia may have changed the balance of Pyongyang’s diplomatic dependence, reducing its reliance on Beijing. Advertisement    North Korea and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in 2024, including a mutual defence provision. Military and political ties between the two countries have (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/18/north-korea-getting-a-raw-deal-on-support-for-russias-war-report) grown considerably stronger, with North Korea deploying (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2026/4/27/north-korea-opens-museum-for-troops-killed-fighting-for-russia) thousands of troops to fight in Russia’s war on Ukraine. United States President Donald Trump also signalled an interest in (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/18/south-korea-says-us-north-korea-talks-possible-rules-out-hormuz-deployment) repairing relations with Pyongyang last month, after his talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/3/2/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-leaves-vietnam-after-summit-breakdown) abruptly ended in 2019. In his second term, Trump has floated meeting Kim again, though no official meeting has been set. North Korea has not yet resumed issuing tourism visas to Chinese citizens, who once made up the bulk of its overseas visitors. While North Korea’s trade with Russia largely involves military supplies, exchanges with China could arguably involve goods North Korea needs to develop its civilian economy, analysts have said.            aj-logo             aj-logo             aj-logo       Advertisement          About About   Show more  (https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us) About Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/code-of-ethics/) Code of Ethics   (https://www.aljazeera.com/terms-and-conditions/) Terms and Conditions   (https://www.aljazeera.com/eu-eea-regulatory/) EU/EEA Regulatory Notice   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/) Privacy Policy   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/cookie/) Cookie Policy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Cookie Preferences    (https://trust.aljazeera.net/accessibility/) Accessibility Statement   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sitemap) Sitemap   (https://careers.aljazeera.net/) Work for us      Connect Connect   Show more  (https://network.aljazeera.net/en/contact?tid=6) Contact Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/user-accounts-help) User Accounts Help   (https://commercial.aljazeera.net/) Advertise with us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/stay-connected) Stay Connected   (https://www.aljazeera.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://sat.aljazeera.net/en) Channel Finder   (https://www.aljazeera.com/schedule/) TV Schedule   (https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/) Podcasts   (https://webapps.aljazeera.net/aje/tips/) Submit a Tip   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored) Paid Partner Content      Our Channels Our Channels   Show more  (http://aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Arabic   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Al Jazeera English   (https://www.ajiunit.com/) Al Jazeera Investigative Unit   (https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/) Al Jazeera Mubasher   (http://doc.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Documentary   (http://balkans.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Balkans   (http://ajplus.net/) AJ+      Our Network Our Network   Show more  (http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/) Al Jazeera Centre for Studies   (http://training.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Media Institute   (http://learning.aljazeera.net/) Learn Arabic   (http://liberties.aljazeera.com/en) Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights   (http://forum.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Forum   (https://hotels.aljazeera.net/en) Al Jazeera Hotel Partners        Follow Al Jazeera English: (https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera) facebook       (https://twitter.com/ajenglish) twitter     (https://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish) youtube     (https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/?hl=en) instagram-colored-outline                          (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml) rss     (https://bsky.app/profile/aljazeera.com) bluesky     (https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish) tiktok-colored-outline                  (Al Jazeera Media Network logo)   © 2026 Al Jazeera Media Network