STORY: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday (October 24), state media CCTV reported, crossing a newly opened bridge in a symbolic move seen as highlighting Beijing and Pyongyang's push to expand trade ties.

Kim was accompanied during his visit by China's fourth-highest-ranked official Wang Huning, who conveyed greetings from President Xi Jinping, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Kim took part in memorial service to pay tribute to Chinese people's volunteer army martyrs, visited an automobile factory and held a meeting with Wang, CCTV said.

Kim arrived in Dandong via the New Yalu River Bridge connecting North Korea and China, a South Korean government official said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The new bridge is expected to help move heavy equipment, raw materials and energy products that North Korea needs for development. Its official opening this month is the latest sign of warming ties between Beijing and Pyongyang, after two summits between their leaders in the past 13 months.

China, which fought alongside North Korea in the 1950-1953 Korean War, remains Pyongyang's main economic and diplomatic backer and accounts for most of its official trade.

Kim's last known visit to China was in September 2025, to attend the 80th Victory Day celebrations in Beijing, when he held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi made a state visit to North Korea in June.

CCTV footage showed Kim waved to crowd on the bridge before heading back to North Korea.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: DANDONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 24, 2026) (CCTV – No use China)

1. NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG UN GETTING OFF CAR, GREETING CHINA’S TOP POLITICAL ADVISOR WANG HUNING

2. KIM SHAKING HANDS WITH WANG

3. HONOUR GUARDS SALUTE

4. VARIOUS OF KIM AND WANG STANDING AS NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS

5. CHINESE FLAG

6. HONOUR GUARDS

7. HONOUR GUARDS MOVING WREATH TO ALTAR

8. VARIOUS OF KIM WALKING UP STAIRS

9. RIBBON ON WREATH WITH KOREAN CHARACTERS READING (Korean): “(LEFT) WE WILL REMEMBER THE MARTYRS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE’S VOLUNTEERS FOREVER / (RIGHT) GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE WORKERS’ PARTY OF KOREA AND PRESIDENT OF THE STATE AFFAIRS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA, KIM JONG UN”

10. KIM SMOOTHING OUT RIBBON

11. MEMORIAL WITH CHINESE CHARACTERS READING (Chinese): “MEMORIAL OF THE WAR TO RESIST U.S. AGGRESSION AND AID KOREAN”

12. KIM BOWING

13. WANG AND OTHER OFFICIALS BOWING

14. EXTERIOR OF MUSEUM

15. KIM TOURING MUSEUM WITH WANG

16. EXHIBIT

17. KIM WALKING AND LOOKING AT EXHIBIT

18. EXHIBIT

19. KIM PRESENTS GIFT TO MUSEUM

20. KIM’S GIFT TO MUSEUM ENGRAVED WITH HIS HANDWRITING AND OLD PORTRAITS

21. WANG AND KIM CLAPPING

22. KIM AND WANG SEATED IN MEETING

23. WANG TALKING

24. KIM LISTENING

25. MEETING IN PROGRESS

26. KIM AND WANG SEATED IN MEETING

27. CHINESE OFFICIALS SEATED IN MEETING

28. KIM TALKING

29. KIM AND WANG SEATED IN MEETING

30. KIM TALKING

31. NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SEATED

32. KIM AND WANG SEATED IN MEETING

33. KIM LOOKING ON IN AUTOMOBILE FACTORY

34. WORKERS AND BUS

35. KIM WALKING WITH WANG

36. BUSES IN FACTORY

37. NEW YALU RIVER BRIDGE

38. KIM WALKING ON BRIDGE AND WAVING

39. CAR CARRYING KIM HEADING TOWARDS NORTH KOREA DIRECTION