What is the new North Korea-China bridge and which cities does it connect?

The Amnok River Bridge is a four-lane crossing linking North Korea’s border city of Sinuiju with Dandong in China. It spans the Amnok River, which China calls the Yalu River.

Why was the Sinuiju-Dandong bridge opening delayed for years?

Although the bridge was completed in 2014, its opening was delayed because North Korea had not finished the connecting roads and customs facilities on its side of the border. The bridge was built with about $310 million in Chinese investment.

How could the new bridge affect North Korea-China relations and border traffic?

The bridge is expected to increase trade and the movement of people between North Korea and China, while reducing congestion on the Friendship Bridge. Its opening follows a June summit at which Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping pledged to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic level and expand exchanges.

N. Korea reports opening of new cross-border bridge with China

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Summary

North Korea and China opened the Amnok River Bridge linking Sinuiju and Dandong on Thursday. Senior officials from both countries attended the ceremony, which North Korea said would strengthen bilateral economic ties. The four-lane bridge was completed in 2014 with about $310 million in Chinese investment after years of delays. It is expected to boost trade and passenger movement while easing congestion on the existing Friendship Bridge.

Key Facts

The bridge stretches 3,026 meters and has four lanes.
North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song and Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered congratulatory speeches by video link.
China invested about $310 million in the bridge, which was completed in 2014.
The opening was delayed because North Korea had not completed connecting roads and customs facilities on its side.
The existing Friendship Bridge has served as the main crossing between the countries since opening in 1943.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 16, 2026 9:21 am KST

Officials participate in the opening ceremony of the North Korea-China Amnok River Bridge, also known as the Yalu River Bridge, Thursday, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on Friday. Yonhap

North Korea on Friday reported the opening of a new cross-border bridge linking its border city of Sinuiju with China's Dandong, highlighting its potential to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the North Korea-China Amnok River Bridge was held the previous day, with senior officials from both countries attending, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"The bridge is the creation reflecting the invincible vitality and development of the DPRK-China friendship, which has preserved its nature despite the trials of history," the KCNA said, adding that the bridge would "enable the two countries to boost bilateral economic relations."

DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,

China's Xinhua News Agency earlier reported the official opening of the bridge across the Amnok River, known as the Yalu River in China.

North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song and Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered congratulatory speeches via video link, while Ri Ryong-nam, North Korea's ambassador to China, and Wang Yajun, China's ambassador to North Korea, attended the ceremony in person, the KCNA said.

Pak said the bridge would strengthen ties between the two peoples and "add fresh vigor to the equally-beneficial economic cooperation," according to the report.

Li reaffirmed China's commitment to its friendship with North Korea, saying Beijing would maintain its policy of prioritizing bilateral ties "no matter how the international situation may change," it added.

The four-lane bridge, stretching 3,026 meters, was completed over a decade ago in 2014 with an investment of about $310 million from China. Its opening had been delayed for years due to North Korea's failure, if not refusal, to complete building connecting roads and customs facilities on its side.

Its opening comes as Pyongyang and Beijing seek to strengthen bilateral ties following a June summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping, at which they pledged to elevate relations to a strategic level and expand exchanges.

The bridge is expected to boost trade and the movement of people between the two countries, and ease congestion on the existing Friendship Bridge, which has served as the main crossing since opening in 1943.

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