North Korea and China open new bridge after 12-year delay
A new road bridge connecting China and North Korea has opened after a 12-year delay, signaling a potential increase in trade. While the bridge is expected to facilitate economic exchange, experts suggest growth will remain gradual due to international sanctions and North Korea's caution regarding Chinese influence.
Why it matters
The bridge represents a critical piece of infrastructure for North Korea's isolated economy and highlights the complex geopolitical relationship between Pyongyang and Beijing.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The New Yalu River Bridge spans 3km (1.9 miles) from the Chinese border city of Dandong to Sinuiju in North Korea
A long-delayed road bridge linking China and North Korea has opened, Chinese state media report, as trade ties improve between the neighbours.
China is North Korea's largest trading partner and a lifeline against heavy international sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.
The New Yalu River Bridge spans 3km (1.9 miles) from the Chinese border city of Dandong to Sinuiju in North Korea, and is set to become the main land route for trade between them.
Its launch, initially slated for 2014, had been indefinitely postponed after North Korea halted construction of its roads and customs facilities, as relations with Beijing turned frosty.
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