North Korean leader Kim Jong Un travels to Chinese border city via newly opened bridge

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in China via the newly opened bridge on Saturday. He arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong via the New Yalu River Bridge linking the two countries.

China’s top political adviser Wang Huning met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Chinese state media reported.

Wang conveyed President Xi Jinping’s "greetings and best wishes to Kim," Xinhua reported.

China and North Korea pledged to "strengthen strategic communication and cooperation to safeguard their sovereignty, security and development interests," Chinese state media said.

The two countries also vowed to expand people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade cooperation through the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge.

The four-lane bridge was completed in 2014 but remained unused for 12 years due to a lack of connecting roads and customs facilities on the North Korean side.

It officially opened about a week ago, marking a step towards strengthening economic ties between the neighbouring countries.

China is North Korea’s largest trading partner and a key source of diplomatic, economic and political support for the isolated, nuclear-armed state, although relations between the two have not always been smooth.

Kim’s trip coincides with key dates in China

The trip coincides with the anniversary of China’s entry into the Korean War, known in China as the "War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea." It remains unclear whether Kim will attend commemorative events.

During the 1950-53 war, Chinese troops fought alongside North Korea against South Korea and US-led United Nations forces.

Kim’s visit also comes ahead of a key political meeting in Beijing on Monday, when Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior officials gather for the fifth plenary session of the Communist Party’s powerful Central Committee.

Bridge highlights North Korea's ties with China

The New Yalu River Bridge opened just over a month after North Korea and Russia inaugurated their first road bridge, which Pyongyang hailed as a sign of closer ties.

While North Korea’s trade with Russia largely involves military supplies, trade with China could provide goods needed to develop its civilian economy, analysts say.