North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China on Saturday, inaugurating a new bridge that connects the two countries and saying he hoped to expand cooperation with his powerful neighbor.
Kim’s visit to China is his latest move in an increasingly assertive foreign policy as he seeks to align Pyongyang with Beijing and Moscow in a united front against the United States under what he portrays as a “new Cold War. It’s his first visit in a year. Kim has maintained a hard line toward Seoul and has so far rebuffed a proposal from U.S. Kim arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong after crossing a newly opened bridge between the countries. North Korean and Chinese state media didn’t immediately report on a visit by Kim.
President Donald Trump to revive their diplomacy, which broke down in 2019 during Trump’s first term.
Kim arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong Saturday after crossing the newly opened bridge, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles affairs related to North Korea and China’s official Xinhua News Agency. Kim said that his country “stands ready to work with China to carry forward their historical friendship and expand practical cooperation, thereby delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries,” according to Xinhua. Wang then accompanied Kim to the bridge to send him off, according to Xinhua. Kim’s government has called for Washington to abandon its “hostile policy” and drop demands for the North’s denuclearization as a precondition for renewed talks. Earlier reporting noted: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits China, South Korean media reports North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited China in his first visit to the country in a year, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Earlier reporting noted: The agency cited an unidentified government source saying Mr. Earlier reporting noted: South Korea’s presidential office and Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean affairs, didn’t immediately confirm the report.
North Korean state media did not immediately report on Kim’s visit and China’s Foreign Ministry press office did not respond to a request for confirmation.
Experts said the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge this month was a key symbol of strengthening ties between North Korea and China and reflected their intent to expand trade, as it is expected to accommodate two-way traffic around the clock, including container shipments and heavy cargo trucks. Japan’s TBS television network aired footage of what it said was likely Kim’s motorcade in Dandong, including a black limousine bearing North Korean flags. Citing anonymous diplomatic sources, Japan’s Kyodo News agency reported earlier on Saturday that Chinese authorities were imposing strict traffic restrictions in parts of Dandong and all hotel rooms in those areas were unavailable for reservation.
