North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in the Chinese city of Dandong on Saturday, 24 October 2026, having crossed the border via a recently opened road bridge. This was reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing a source within the South Korean government. This is the first known trip by the North Korean leader to China since September 2025. Neither Beijing nor Pyongyang has yet officially confirmed the visit.
- On 24 October, Kim Jong-un arrived in the Chinese city of Dandong, according to Yonhap.
- The North Korean leader crossed the border via the new bridge over the Yalu River, which opened on 15 October.
- This is Kim Jong-un’s first known visit to China since September 2025.
- Beijing and Pyongyang have not yet confirmed the visit or its purpose.
- The trip is taking place on the eve of the APEC summit in China, at which Donald Trump is expected to attend.
What is known about Kim Jong-un’s arrival in China
According to Yonhap, Kim Jong-un arrived in the border town of Dandong via the new road bridge linking China with the North Korean town of Sinuiju.
A source within the South Korean government told the agency that the North Korean leader crossed the border at some point on 24 October.
Reuters sought comment from South Korea’s Ministry of Unification and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the time of publication, there had been no official confirmation of the report.
The purpose of the trip, its duration and the possible schedule of Kim Jong-un’s meetings with the Chinese leadership remain unknown.
China and North Korea have opened a new bridge after a 12-year wait
The announcement of the visit came nine days after the official opening of the new road bridge across the Yalu River, which separates China and North Korea.
The crossing, which is approximately three kilometres long, was built back in 2014, but it remained unused for over a decade due to the unfinished border infrastructure on the North Korean side.
On 15 October 2026, the countries officially opened the bridge to traffic. The Premier of the State Council of China took part in the ceremony remotely Li Qiang and the Prime Minister of the DPRK Park Tae-seon.
The new crossing is expected to boost trade between the two countries and relieve pressure on the old border bridge, which has been in operation since 1943.
China remains North Korea’s main trading partner, and the opening of the new border crossing has been one of the steps towards expanding economic cooperation.
Relations between China and North Korea have intensified
Kim Jong-un’s previous known visit to China took place in September 2025. On that occasion, he travelled to Beijing to take part in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and held talks with the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.
In June 2026, Xi Jinping undertook state visit to North Korea. During the talks, the parties agreed to expand cooperation in the economy, trade and other areas.
The intensification of contacts between Beijing and Pyongyang is taking place against the backdrop of the DPRK’s deepening military ties with Russia, to which North Korea is providing military support in the war against Ukraine.
Could Kim Jong-un meet Donald Trump?
The news of Kim Jong-un’s arrival in China emerged on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for 18–19 November in Shenzhen, China.
US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the event; he has previously expressed his willingness on several occasions to resume talks with the North Korean leader.
However, on 23 October, Reuters, citing US and South Korean officials, reported that the prospects of a meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un before the end of the year remain uncertain.
According to the agency, Washington has not received a response from Pyongyang to proposals to resume talks on nuclear programme North Korea.
