Kim Jong-un crossed the Yalu River on Saturday, stepping into the Chinese border city of Dandong. He used the New Yalu River Bridge, a structure that officially opened just thirteen days ago on October 15. This marks his first journey to a Chinese city in more than a year.
Yonhap News Agency reported the movement, citing an unnamed South Korean government source. The agency noted that local authorities in Dandong imposed strict traffic restrictions ahead of his arrival. The leader traveled from Sinuiju, the North Korean side of the border, to Liaoning province.
The visit lands at a delicate diplomatic moment. US President Donald Trump is actively seeking to resume dialogue with Pyongyang before the year ends. He aims to achieve a breakthrough ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November in Shenzhen.
Diplomats are watching the route. The bridge, completed in 2014 but left unused for over a decade, now serves as a direct physical link. Whether this trip signals a thaw in relations or a pre-summit posture remains to be seen. The next move likely comes from Washington or Beijing in the coming days.