North Korea is near finishing a long-delayed new bridge to China, satellite tv for pc imagery analyzed by Radio Free Asia exhibits.
Consultants mentioned that after the brand new bridge connecting Dandong in China with Sinuiju in North Korea is full, commerce quantity will greater than double, relieving stress on the growing older Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge – the one different connection between the 2 cities – thought of the principle artery between the 2 nations.
Pyongyang and Beijing accomplished the construction of the New Yalu River Bridge in 2014, with the Chinese language authorities footing the invoice, however since then it has remained unopened as a result of the 2 sides couldn’t come to an settlement on financing building on infrastructure amenities on North Korea’s finish.
However building resumed in January 2025 after Chinese language corporations agreed to speculate, and if all goes based on plan, the brand new bridge may go into service as early as autumn, Bruce Songhak Chung, a senior researcher on the Seoul-based Korea Institute for Safety Technique, informed RFA.
“Chinese language merchants concerned in cross-border commerce mentioned discussions on a gap ceremony may very well be held as soon as building on the North Korean aspect is accomplished,” Park Jongchol, a professor at Gyeongsang Nationwide College in South Korea mentioned. “On the Chinese language aspect, there have been just a few predicted dates being mentioned — corresponding to October 3, the date the 2 nations established diplomatic relations — although these haven’t been confirmed by both Beijing or Pyongyang.”
Even when that prediction finally ends up being incorrect, Chung mentioned he expects the bridge to open this yr primarily based on his evaluation of the imagery.
In a July 20 picture, building has superior considerably in each the warehouse and logistic zone and the customs and safety zone on the North Korean aspect of the bridge, Chung mentioned.
These are positioned in a roughly 50-hectare (120-acre) space that was cleared and left undeveloped for greater than a decade. For the reason that 2025 restart, dozens of administrative and safety buildings, warehouses, and different amenities have been erected, with roofs put in and exterior buildings largely accomplished, the imagery exhibits.
Nearer ties, elevated commerce
As building progressed, Chinese language President Xi Jinping visited North Korea on June 8 and agreed with North Korean chief Kim Jong Un to develop financial cooperation and make better use of cross-border commerce in areas together with agriculture, expertise, infrastructure, and people-to-people alternate.
Chinese language specialists instructed that following Xi’s go to, Beijing is predicted to offer a big package deal of presents to North Korea, with the bridge only a small a part of it, Park mentioned.
The bridge itself was to have been an emblem of financial cooperation between the 2 nations, however as an alternative it turned one of many better-known North Korean white elephants, constructed for an excellent nationwide function, however serving no perform. However that can change as soon as it opens.
The brand new bridge will permit direct entry for heavy cargo vehicles, enhance customs capability, decrease transportation prices and assist improvement of Sinuiju, Joung Eunlee, the director of the Seoul-based Korea Institute for Nationwide Unification, informed RFA.
“The bridge aligns with broader financial pursuits on either side of the border,” she mentioned. “China has sought to strengthen Dandong’s place as its principal commerce gateway with North Korea, whereas Pyongyang is predicted to extend imports of building supplies and industrial tools for infrastructure and regional improvement tasks.”
Closing touches
In current months, building has continued at a breakneck tempo, Chung noticed.
“Alongside the northern entry street to the bridge, satellite tv for pc imagery additionally recognized building supplies and short-term shelters for staff, the blue and orange objects seen alongside the roadside for multiple kilometer—supporting work on the customs complicated and street paving,” Chung mentioned.
Nevertheless, paving contained in the customs complicated and on entry roads has but to be accomplished, indicating the bottom preparation and basis work are nonetheless underway. So the ultimate asphalt or concrete paving, lane marking and web site cleanup should be accomplished earlier than the customs facility can assist common freight clearance and automobile site visitors, Chung mentioned.
Building on the North Korean aspect of the bridge is seen from China, Park informed RFA.
“Automobiles proceed to hold building supplies throughout the bridge. It’s anticipated to open this yr,” Park informed RFA.
The bridge stretches about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from the customs facility on the Chinese language aspect into North Korea, and the four-lane freeway has now been totally paved in each instructions. On June 28, Seoul-based media outlet Every day NK reported that buses have been seen conducting trial runs throughout it.
Park mentioned he was capable of observe about 300 vehicles crossing from China into North Korea and roughly the identical quantity crossing again within the afternoon over the growing older Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, which lies simply upstream from the brand new bridge.
The Friendship Bridge was constructed by the Japanese throughout World Struggle II, making it older than North Korea itself. As a result of roughly 70% of Sino-North Korean commerce traverses this bridge annually, nevertheless it was constructed for a special period, and may deal with solely a restricted variety of crossings per day, Park mentioned.
“As soon as the brand new bridge opens, cargo quantity is predicted to extend a number of occasions over, dramatically remodeling cross border logistics,” Park mentioned.
Tumen bridge delayed
In the meantime, satellite tv for pc imagery signifies that building on the Tumen River Bridge connecting North Korea and Russia — which had reportedly been anticipated to open on June 19 — continues to be underway.
Satellite tv for pc imagery captured June 30 exhibits building on the bridge itself, plus North Korea’s customs facility and entry roads, has been accomplished. However work on the Russian aspect, together with roads, a checkpoint and a customs complicated, stays unfinished.
The roughly 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) bridge will join the North Korean metropolis of Rason with the Russian city of Khasan and might be able to dealing with as much as 300 autos and a pair of,850 individuals per day, based on Russia’s Ministry of Transport.
Regardless of the delay, Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday met with North Korea’s International Minister Choe Solar Hui, emphasizing shut ties between two nations.
Consultants informed RFA that the brand new bridges might present a method for China to undercut worldwide sanctions on North Korea, meant to deprive Pyongyang of money and sources that may very well be funneled into its nuclear and missile packages.
Russia was the primary to overtly violate sanctions on North Korea, Joung mentioned. Moscow wanted allies because it confronted elevated isolation following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Entities in China, however have discovered methods to get round sanctions, corresponding to by transferring items ship to ship whereas at sea, or by organising shell firms to obfuscate the place items or cash are despatched and acquired, Joung famous.
The bridges would make it even simpler for Moscow and Beijing to skirt sanctions with out significant worldwide oversight or enforcement, regulated solely by the well being of their relationship with Pyongyang, she mentioned.
“The New Yalu River Bridge and the Tumen River Bridge appear to be one of many barometers of North Korea’s relations with China and Russia,” Joung mentioned. “Each bridges are anticipated to open this yr, and diplomatic ties and financial cooperation between North Korea and China, North Korea and Russia, and amongst all three nations are more likely to be stronger than ever.”
Edited by Eugene Whong.
