New Yalu River Bridge Opens Linking China and North Korea After 12-Year Delay

The 3km New Yalu River Bridge, connecting Dandong in China to Sinuiju in North Korea, has opened and is set to become the main land route for bilateral trade. Originally slated for 2014, construction was halted when relations between the two nations were strained. Bilateral trade reached $2.7bn last year, recovering to pre-pandemic levels, primarily driven by Chinese exports to North Korea. However, a sudden surge in trade is unlikely due to ongoing UN sanctions and North Korea's caution regarding increased Chinese influence.