New four-lane bridge opens between China, North Korea

A new four-lane bridge connecting China and North Korea finally opened on Thursday, 12 years after its construction was completed. The 3,026-meter New Yalu River vehicle bridge enables the Asian giant and its isolated nuclear-armed neighbor to significantly increase cross-border trade. Hundreds of people gathered in the northern Chinese border town of Dandong to take selfies in front of the bridge before it officially opened.

Trucks bearing both nations' flags began moving in both directions late in the morning. Residents expressed relief and optimism about the improved economic prospects. Chinese Premier Li Qiang hailed the bridge as a symbol of Beijing's friendship with Pyongyang and a new phase in relations. The bridge's opening, delayed due to infrastructure gaps on the North Korean side and North Korea's pandemic-related border closures, marks a substantial improvement over the aging Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge.

Despite the bridge's significance, North Korea has not yet resumed issuing tourism visas to Chinese citizens.