North Koreaupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 7 June 2012Kim Jong Un Returns From Dandong After Korean War Memorial Visit, Crossing New Yalu River Bridge
4 Asian3 Western Mainstream1 Other1 West AsianPhoto: Yoshi Canopus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped for layout
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Kim Jong Un visited Dandong, China, and toured a Korean War memorial. He crossed the New Amnok River Bridge on the return to North Korea.
9 outlets told this the same way.
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Kim returns via Dandong
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un returned from a surprise one-day trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong after visiting a Korean War memorial, North Korean state media said on Sunday. Kim visited Dandong on Saturday and returned by road, crossing a newly opened bridge that connects North Korea to its biggest international backer and trading partner. KCNA reported that Kim said the North Korean people would "forever remember the glorious years of fighting alongside the Chinese people" and pass down "generational gratitude to the Chinese people who helped our revolution with blood".
Reuters reported that Kim crossed the New Yalu River Bridge into China as the symbolic move highlighted Beijing and Pyongyang's push to expand trade ties. The trip came as the visit preceded the anniversary of China joining the Korean War on Pyongyang's side, with state media calling the bilateral relationship an "unbreakable" bond forged during the 1950-1953 conflict between North Korea and the US-backed South.
Signals for Washington
Kim's Dandong trip highlighted North Korea's solidarity with Beijing and was framed by experts as a move to strengthen his hand with Washington ahead of next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim invoked the two countries' blood alliance repeatedly, describing their friendship as invincible, forged in blood and bound by blood. KCNA quoted Kim telling the tour that the North Korean people would "forever remember the glorious years of fighting alongside the Chinese people" and pass down "generational gratitude to the Chinese people who helped our revolution with blood".
Leif-Eric Easley said Russia was fuelling an arms race while China was enabling Kim's distorted account of the Korean War and his rejection of Seoul's reconciliation efforts, rather than upholding UN Security Council resolutions. Easley added that "The New Yalu River Bridge reflects Chinese leaders’ belief that greater economic connectivity will contribute to regional stability" while China prioritized that logic over making benefits conditional on North Korean compliance with past international agreements.
Trade bridge and next steps
Reuters said the New Yalu River Bridge is expected to help move heavy equipment, raw materials and energy products that North Korea needs for development. Reuters also reported that China and North Korea opened the 3 km (2 mile) New Yalu River Bridge this month after a long delay, aiming to rejuvenate trade and commerce after years of strained ties and pandemic-related disruptions. Wang Huning conveyed greetings from President Xi Jinping to Kim during the visit, with Xinhua saying Wang accompanied Kim to a Korean War memorial in Dandong.
The Korea Times reported that Kim returned to North Korea via the newly opened New Amnok River Bridge, also known as the New Yalu River Bridge, and that Kim expressed hope it would "undoubtedly and correctly fulfill its historic mission of linking the two countries". The Korea Times said the visit came as Pyongyang sought to strengthen ties with Beijing after bilateral ties had remained cool, while North Korea deepened alignment with Russia amid Moscow's war against Ukraine.
