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Kim Jong Un reportedly enters China via newly opened bridge

South Korean officials say Kim Jong Un entered China unannounced, and Pyongyang and Beijing have not confirmed the trip.

Updated Oct 24, 2026 · 12:14 UTC5 reports

The short version

  • South Korean officials say Kim Jong Un entered China's Dandong via the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge.[The Guardian · Al Jazeera]
  • The trip was not announced in advance, and Pyongyang and Beijing have not confirmed it. Chinese Premier Li Qiang reportedly met Kim in Dandong.[The Guardian · Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
  • Kyodo reported traffic controls around the bridge and a local war museum, with nearby hotel bookings restricted.[The Guardian]
  • Official confirmation from Pyongyang or Beijing remains outstanding, and the purpose of the visit is not stated in the reporting.[The Guardian · Associated Press]

Key facts

  • Kim Jong Un reportedly arrived in Dandong, Liaoning province, via the New Yalu River Bridge, according to South Korean officials.[The Guardian · Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
  • The trip is reportedly Kim's sixth visit to China and his first since September 2025.[The Guardian]
  • The 3km New Yalu River Bridge opened in mid-October, 12 years after China finished building it, following delays on the North Korean side.[The Guardian]
  • Chinese Premier Li Qiang reportedly met Kim in Dandong, according to a South Korean official quoted by Reuters.[Al Jazeera]
  • Japan's Kyodo News reported traffic controls around the bridge and a local war museum, with nearby hotel bookings restricted.[The Guardian · Associated Press]
  • The trip was not announced in advance and had not been confirmed by Pyongyang or Beijing as of Saturday evening.[The Guardian · Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • Pyongyang and Beijing have not confirmed the visit, North Korean state media had not immediately reported it, and China's Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for confirmation.[The Guardian · Associated Press]
  • The arrival and the Li Qiang meeting rely on South Korean officials and unnamed sources, and the Li Qiang meeting is attributed to a single South Korean official quoted by Reuters.[The Guardian · Al Jazeera]
  • The official purpose of the visit is not stated in the reporting provided.[The Guardian · Al Jazeera · Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.