Kim Jong Un visited Dandong on 24 October and returned by road across a newly opened bridge. The leader was accompanied by Kim Yo Jong and Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, while Wang Huning served as his guide.
During the trip, Un inspected a bus factory in Dandong and presented a commemorative plaque to a museum. At a historic Korean War memorial, Un expressed a desire to "forever remember the glorious years of fighting alongside the Chinese people."
He also spoke of "generational gratitude to the Chinese people who helped our revolution with blood." The New Yalu River Bridge, which was completed in 2014, officially opened last week.
Standing at the middle point of the new structure, Un said, "Enjoying a bird's-eye view at the middle point of the newly inaugurated bridge, Comrade Un expressed the expectation that the bridge would undoubtedly and correctly fulfill its historic mission of linking the two countries and firmly joining the minds of the peoples of the two countries." Huning stated the project aims at "consolidating public goodwill towards the friendship (and) deepening political mutual trust and jointly pursuing cooperation and development."
Chinese President Xi Jinping offered "cordial greetings and best wishes" during the events, which also included participation by Wang Yi. Un also attended the third meeting of company leaders of the Korean People's Army and urged his military to train to become the strongest in the world.
This visit follows Jinping's trip to North Korea in June 2026 and Un's previous visit to Beijing in September 2025. Meanwhile, Korea rejected a demand from South Korea for an apology following an explosion inside the Demilitarised Zone that injured South Korean soldiers.
President Lee Jae Myung suggested that Washington seek a freeze of Korea’s nuclear programme. Jinping recently held summits in Beijing with Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
