China and North Korea agree to open “Unopened Bridge” after 12 years

[Dandong (Liaoning Province, China) Current Affairs] The new Yalu River Bridge, which connects China and North Korea, opened on the 15th. 12 years have passed since its completion. It was called the ``bridge that never opened,'' but it was finally opened because both countries agreed to improve relations.

A new bridge connecting China and North Korea opens, expanding trade and traffic and improving relations.

"The full reopening of border checkpoints should be used as an opportunity to expand people-to-people exchanges and facilitate two-way traffic." In June of this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who visited North Korea for the first time in seven years, said this in a meeting with Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, and encouraged the expansion of trade and traffic between the two countries.

The bridge was completed in 2014, but relations between the two countries deteriorated due to China's approval of the United Nations Security Council's resolution to tighten sanctions over North Korea's nuclear tests. The border closure due to the coronavirus pandemic and North Korea's military aid to Russia have strained relations between China and North Korea, and the opening of the line has been postponed.

However, Kim Jong Un visited China in September last year. In response, Mr. Xi visited North Korea and confirmed their friendship, and the mood for improving relations between China and North Korea rapidly increased.

Both countries have their sights set on the Trump administration. President Trump has expressed his desire to have direct talks with Kim, and the Xi administration appears to be intending to use its influence over North Korea as a negotiating card with the United States. Kim Jong-un also wants to have Russia and China as his backing in order to confront the United States.

The opening of the bridge can be said to be a symbol of the strengthening of friendly relations between China and North Korea, but local residents on the Chinese side have a calm reception of it. A man in his 70s who came to watch the opening ceremony said, ``It doesn't have much of an impact on anyone other than traders.'' A woman in her 70s said, ``The reason for the delay in opening the bridge is probably due to North Korea's circumstances.It's good for countries to get along with each other, but even if the bridge opens, there will be no particular benefit for ordinary citizens.''