North Korea finally opens new cross-border bridge with China
The Amnok River crossing, which was finished in 2014 but had been waiting for the North to build connecting roads and customs facilities, is expected to expand trade and ease travel between the nations.
The opening ceremony of the new North Korea-China Amnok River Bridge is held at the bridge connecting North Korea's Sinuiju with China's Dandong on Oct. 15, in this photo distributed by the Rodong Sinmun on Oct. 16.NEWS1
North Korea on Friday reported the opening of a new bridge linking its border city of Sinuiju with China's Dandong, highlighting its potential to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the North Korea-China Amnok River Bridge was held the previous day, with senior officials from both countries attending, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
“The bridge is the creation reflecting the invincible vitality and development of the DPRK-China friendship, which has preserved its nature despite the trials of history,” the KCNA said, adding that the bridge would “enable the two countries to boost bilateral economic relations.”
DPRK is the initialism for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
China's Xinhua News Agency earlier reported the official opening of the bridge across the Amnok River, known as the Yalu River in China.
North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song and Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered congratulatory speeches via video link, while Ri Ryong-nam, North Korea's ambassador to China, and Wang Yajun, China's ambassador to North Korea, attended the ceremony in person, the KCNA said.
Pak said the bridge would strengthen ties between the two peoples and “add fresh vigor to the equally-beneficial economic cooperation,” according to the report.
The newly opened North Korea-China Amnok River Bridge is shown in this photo distributed by the Rodong Sinmun on Oct. 16.NEWS1
Li reaffirmed China's commitment to its friendship with North Korea, saying Beijing would maintain its policy of prioritizing bilateral ties “no matter how the international situation may change,” it added.
The four-lane bridge, stretching 3.03 kilometers (1.88 miles), was completed in 2014 with an investment of about $310 million from China. Its opening had been delayed for more a decade due to North Korea's failure, if not refusal, to complete building connecting roads and customs facilities on its side.
Its opening comes as Pyongyang and Beijing seek to strengthen bilateral ties following a June summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping, at which they pledged to elevate relations to a strategic level and expand exchanges.
The bridge is expected to boost trade and the movement of people between the two countries, and ease congestion on the existing Friendship Bridge, which has served as the main crossing since opening in 1943.
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![(평양 노동신문=뉴스1) = 북한 노동당 기관지 노동신문은 16일 '조중(북중) 두 나라 정부와 인민들의 기대와 관심 속에 조중압록강다리(신압록강대교) 개통식이 15일 현지에서 진행됐다'라고 보도했다. [국내에서만 사용가능. 재배포 금지. DB 금지. For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. Redistribution Prohibited] rodongphoto@news1.kr](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12923992.webp?imageId=12923992&width=960&height=548&format=jpg)
