Trucks line up as long-delayed China-North Korea bridge officially opens

DANDONG, China — China and North Korea officially marked the long-delayed opening of their most significant land border crossing on Thursday, aiming to rejuvenate trade and commerce after years of soured ties and pandemic-related disruptions to cross-border exchange.

The area around the New Yalu River Bridge saw increased activity over the past few days, with trucks adorned with Chinese flags waiting on the bridge ahead of a crossing on Thursday.

Crowds also gathered on the Chinese side along a road overlooking the bridge.

Chinese and North Korean flags also lined the cable-stayed bridge with towering pylons that had been completed in 2014 but remained unused, while approach roads and a customs compound on the North Korea end remained unfinished.

On Thursday, the countries held an opening ceremony for the new bridge, according to Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. North Korea’s state media have yet to report on the scheduled event.