China and North Korea to open New Yalu River Bridge, state media reports

By AFP and Reuters. Published On 14 Oct 202614 Oct 2026.

Key points

• China and North Korea will officially open the New Yalu River Bridge to traffic on Thursday, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reports.
• Although China was North Korea's main diplomatic partner and protector for decades, relations strained after Beijing in 2017 backed tightening sanctions on Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons programme.
• China's exports to North Korea rose to a six-year high of $2.3bn last year, a 25 percent growth from the previous year.
• North Korea and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in 2024, including a mutual defence provision.
• 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.

China completed its side of the bridge in 2014, hoping to boost trade ties. Nevertheless, North Korea left its side unfinished for years as relations soured after Beijing backed United Nations sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear tests.

For context, the first bridge connecting Russia and North Korea additionally opened earlier this month.

China's exports to North Korea rose to a six-year high of $2.3bn last year, a 25 percent growth from the previous year. Chinese President Xi Jinping was welcomed in Pyongyang in June for the first time since 2019.

Since 2018, Beijing has tried to repair ties with Pyongyang. It additionally briefly began improving relations with Washington around the same time.

Notably, the China-North Korea relationship was forged during the Korean War. In 1961, the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. It remains China's only formal military alliance.

Meanwhile, the treaty contains a mutual defence clause committing either side to assist the other if one comes under armed attack.

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 grown considerably stronger, with North Korea deploying thousands of troops to fight in Russia's war on Ukraine.

After his negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un abruptly concluded in 2019, united States President Donald Trump additionally signalled an interest in repairing relations with Pyongyang last month. Though no official gathering has been set, in his second term, Trump has floated session Kim again.

North Korea has not yet resumed issuing tourism visas to Chinese citizens. This person once created 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 remarked.

Taken together, the developments around china and North Korea to open New Yalu River Bridge, state media point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.