Chinese drivers lose their side business on the new Yalu bridge

Chinese truckers who once earned extra cash by smuggling parcels into North Korea are dissatisfied with the New Yalu River Bridge. Since its opening in October 2026, increased customs checks and movement controls have significantly reduced the side income they relied on. The new bridge connects Dandong in China's Liaoning province with Sinuiju in North Pyongan province, improving cargo transportation between the two cities.

However, stricter inspections on both sides have made it nearly impossible for drivers to carry unauthorized goods. "Drivers used to bring a few unauthorized goods on every trip into North Korea to earn extra money," a source told Daily NK. "Now that they're using the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge, that has become difficult."

Drivers often carried cigarettes, the most common item, which were resold to Chinese merchants. The new bridge has led to a loss of informal earnings, causing frustration among the drivers. Meanwhile, North Korean trucks expected to start hauling cargo across the bridge this month have not yet begun operating. The bridge has upgraded logistics infrastructure but has not delivered a noticeable expansion of North Korea-China trade, as trade remains constrained by U.N. Security Council sanctions.