N. Korea-China bridge nears opening amid signs of economic bargain: report

What happened: North Korea and China plan to open the New Yalu River Bridge on Thursday after a 12-year delay, per China's Xinhua News Agency, with a joint inauguration ceremony. The INSS think tank says the delay reflected competing economic interests. Key numbers: Bridge is 3,026 meters, four lanes, completed in 2014 with Chinese funding. Why it matters: INSS's Kim Gyu-beom says the bridge could widen North Korea's trade deficit and deepen its dependence on Beijing, and that Pyongyang may have used the project as a bargaining chip.

North Korea-China bridge opening signals potential economic deal, a key catalyst.

North Korea-China bridge opening signals potential economic deal, a key catalyst. — impact context not separately stored; see What changed.