Which North Korean and Chinese officials accompanied Kim Jong-un during his Dandong trip?

Kim was accompanied by Kim Yo-jong, Jo Yong-won, Ri Il-hwan, Kim Song-nam, Choe Son-hui and Kim Tok-hun, among others. The Chinese side included Wang Huning, Wang Yi, Liu Haixing and Ma Zhaoxu.

Why did Chung Dong-young say Kim Jong-un’s Dandong visit may have been more than an economic event?

Chung pointed to the delegation’s diplomatic and security makeup and the absence of economic officials at the bridge event. He said the presence of both sides’ diplomatic and security teams warranted close attention.

How could Kim Jong-un’s Dandong trip relate to a possible North Korea-U.S. summit?

Chung’s remarks suggested the trip may have provided an opportunity to prepare for a possible North Korea-U.S. summit. He did not say that such preparations or summit discussions had taken place.

Kim's China trip may have been more than economic event: unification minister

Listen

Summary

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s trip to Dandong, China, last week may have been more than an economic event, given the diplomatic and security officials in his delegation. Chung said the visit was unusual because Kim attended an event for a bridge intended to boost economic cooperation but brought no economic officials. He said the trip may also have been an opportunity to prepare for a possible North Korea-U.S. summit.

Key Facts

Kim made a surprise one-day trip to Dandong on Saturday and attended an event at the newly opened bridge over the Amnok River, known in China as the Yalu River.
Kim’s delegation included his sister Kim Yo-jong, party central committee secretaries Jo Yong-won, Ri Il-hwan and Kim Song-nam, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, and First Vice Premier Kim Tok-hun.
China’s delegation included Wang Huning, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Liu Haixing and Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.
Chung described the visit as unprecedented because Kim made a rare trip to China but held no talks with his Chinese counterpart.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 27, 2026 4:14 pm KST

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, waves to people cheering from the New Amnok River Bridge in this image released by Korean Central News Agency, Sunday. Yonhap

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's trip to China last week may have been more than an economic event, given the makeup of his delegation.

"The fact that both sides fielded their diplomatic and security teams deserves a close look," Chung said at a parliamentary audit, responding to a lawmaker's question about the meaning of Kim's surprise one-day trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday.

He noted the North Korean delegation was heavy with diplomatic and security officials, and that no economic officials were present at the newly opened bridge over the Amnok River, known in China as the Yalu River.

Kim was joined by his sister Kim Yo-jong, a department director of the Workers' Party of Korea; Jo Yong-won, Ri Il-hwan and Kim Song-nam, secretaries of the party's central committee; Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui; and First Vice Premier Kim Tok-hun, among others.

The Chinese side included Wang Huning, the fourth-ranking official in the Chinese Communist Party; Foreign Minister Wang Yi; Liu Haixing, head of the party's international department; and Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, who is regarded as a Chinese diplomat with extensive experience in U.S. affairs.

Chung also called Kim's trip "unprecedented" on the grounds that he made a rare visit to China but held no talks with his Chinese counterpart, and attended an event for a bridge meant to boost economic cooperation with China, yet brought mostly his key security aides.

"We have to look carefully at what it means," he said.

His remarks suggested the visit was more than a show of the old alliance and economic ties. It may also have been a chance to prepare for a possible North Korea-U.S. summit.

Explore More