New Bridge Linking China and North Korea Opens After a Decade-Long Delay
Demonstrating strengthening ties between China and North Korea, the New Yalu River Bridge is entering service following prolonged delays.
The New Yalu River Bridge, connecting China and North Korea, is opening on Thursday after a delay of over a decade. This development signals a deepening of relations between the two countries.
Bridge Features and Location
The four-lane, 3-kilometer-long New Yalu River Bridge will connect the city of Dandong in northeastern China with the city of Sinuiju in North Korea.
Reasons for the Delay
The bridge was originally expected to enter service in 2014 after the completion of infrastructure work on the Chinese side, but the date was postponed due to incomplete work on the North Korean side.
Economic and Commercial Expectations
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the new bridge will further promote economic, commercial, and people-to-people exchanges.
Impact on Existing Infrastructure
The new bridge is expected to ease the burden on the old bridge built in 1937, which carries more than 70 percent of official trade between the two countries.