China and North Korea to open New Yalu River Bridge, state media reports

The long-delayed bridge will formally open on Thursday, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.China and North Korea will officially open the New Yalu River Bridge to traffic on Thursday, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reports.China completed its side of the bridge in 2014, hoping to boost trade ties. However, North Korea left its side unfinished for years as relations soured after Beijing supported United Nations sanctions over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles towards the sealist 2 of 4South Korea considers steps to force North Korea apology for DMZ mine blastlist 3 of 4South Korea pledges legal action over alleged fuel exports to Russialist 4 of 4South Korea to recall Ukraine envoy in diplomatic row over POWsend of listThe first bridge connecting Russia and North Korea also opened earlier this month.China-North Korea Relations China’s exports to North Korea rose to a six-year high of $2.3bn last year, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. Chinese President Xi Jinping was welcomed in Pyongyang in June for the first time since 2019.Since 2018, Beijing has tried to repair ties with Pyongyang, which also briefly began improving relations with Washington around the same time.The China-North Korea relationship was forged during the Korean War. In 1961, the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which remains China’s only formal military alliance.The treaty contains a mutual defence clause committing either side to assist the other if one comes under armed attack.Although China was North Korea’s main diplomatic partner and protector for decades, relations strained after Beijing in 2017 supported tightening sanctions on Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons programme.Analysts say North Korea’s recent growing relationship with Russia may have changed the balance of Pyongyang’s diplomatic dependence, reducing its reliance on Beijing.