[Breaking] New bridge linking China and North Korea to open on Thursday: Xinhua

The flags of China and North Korea can be seen hanging on the customs facility on the North Korean side of the New Yalu River Bridge connecting Dandong in China's Liaoning Province, with Sinuiju in North Korea's North Pyongan Province on Oct. 13, 2026. (courtesy of a reader)

The New Yalu River Bridge connecting Dandong in northeastern China and Sinuiju in North Korea will officially open Thursday, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday. 

“Following consultations between China and North Korea, the newly built New Yalu River Bridge will officially open on Oct. 15,” Xinhua reported, adding that the two countries would hold a joint opening ceremony the same day.

Signs of preparations for the opening emerged Tuesday, when the flags of North Korea and China were seen hanging at customs facilities on the North Korean side of the bridge.

The new bridge is located about 13 kilometers southwest of the existing Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, which also connects Dandong and Sinuiju.

China financed the project at a cost of about 2.2 billion yuan (US$329 million). The 3,030-meter-long bridge, which has four lanes for two-way traffic, was completed in 2014 but remained unused for years as construction of connecting roads and customs facilities on the North Korean side lagged.

Its opening was repeatedly delayed amid a combination of factors, including international sanctions against North Korea, the COVID-19 pandemic and strained relations between Pyongyang and Beijing.