North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has returned home after a surprise visit to China on Saturday, crossing the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge into Dandong for the first time, in a visit highlighting closer ties between Pyongyang and Beijing.
The trip marked Kim's first visit to China in a year and his sixth since taking power in 2011, carrying both diplomatic and symbolic significance.
Kim was welcomed in Dandong by Wang Huning, one of China's most senior officials and a member of the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, who conveyed personal greetings from President Xi Jinping.
The two toured a car factory and pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Kim said North Korea was ready to build on its longstanding friendship with China and expand practical cooperation to benefit both countries.
The visit came just ahead of 25 October, when both countries commemorate China's entry into the 1950–1953 Korean War in support of North Korea.
Kim visited a memorial in Dandong honouring those who died in the conflict, while North Korean state media emphasised the historical ties between the two nations, describing their friendship as one forged through bloodshed.
Beyond the symbolism, the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge marks a significant step towards restoring economic links between the neighbours.
Construction began more than a decade ago but stalled for years, initially because of political tensions and later due to COVID-19 border restrictions that left North Korea largely isolated for more than four years.
The bridge's opening could help revive cross-border trade, which is still recovering from years of disruption.
The visit comes at a crucial time for North Korea's foreign policy, as Kim seeks to strengthen Pyongyang's ties with both China and Russia.
Throughout 2026, Kim has moved to reinforce relations with Beijing and Moscow, portraying the global order as a new Cold War between the U.S. and countries challenging Washington's dominance.
His latest trip underscores those relationships at a time of renewed speculation over possible diplomatic engagement with Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting Kim on the sidelines of next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, adding another dimension to the North Korean leader's visit.
A potential meeting between the two leaders on Chinese soil would place Beijing at the centre of a significant diplomatic encounter.
For now, Kim's visit to Dandong serves as both a reaffirmation of North Korea's longstanding alliance with China and a possible prelude to renewed talks with Washington.
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