North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday after crossing a newly opened bridge over the Yalu River, which connects North Korea and China, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing a South Korean government source. The visit is Kim's first trip to China in a year, according to South Korea's Unification Ministry.
Reported arrival in Dandong
Yonhap reported that Kim had entered China by crossing the new bridge, placing his arrival in Dandong, a Chinese city on the border with North Korea. The report attributed the information to a South Korean government source. The available information did not provide further details about the timing of the crossing or the arrangements for Kim's arrival.
The bridge spans the Yalu River, a natural boundary between the two countries, and links the North Korean and Chinese sides. Kim's reported use of the newly opened crossing makes the bridge a central part of the account of his arrival. No additional information was provided about the bridge's opening, its operation or whether it was used by other travelers.
The reports were published by Khabarhub and Pradesh Khabar, drawing on the report of Kim's arrival and the information attributed to South Korean officials.
First China visit in a year
South Korea's Unification Ministry said the trip is Kim's first visit to China in a year. The ministry did not immediately provide a further public comment on the reported arrival: a spokesperson had no immediate comment when approached. China's foreign ministry also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The information available so far confirms the reported arrival and the ministry's account of when Kim last visited China, but offers no details about the purpose, length or schedule of the trip. Neither a possible itinerary nor any planned meetings were specified in the report. The absence of immediate comment from the two ministries does not, on its own, add confirmation or explanation to those unanswered questions.
What is known so far
- Destination: Dandong, the Chinese border city.
- Route reported: Across a newly opened bridge over the Yalu River, linking China and North Korea.
- Source of the arrival report: Yonhap, citing a South Korean government source.
- Visit history: South Korea's Unification Ministry described it as Kim's first China visit in a year.
- Official responses: A Unification Ministry spokesperson had no immediate comment, while China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The report therefore establishes the route and destination attributed to Kim's arrival, along with the South Korean ministry's description of the visit as his first in a year. Further details about the trip remain unavailable in the information provided.
