Through the Lens: China's first new gateway to Korean peninsula in 80 years

What happened: China and North Korea opened the New Yalu River Bridge on Oct. 15, expanding cross-border trade. It crosses the Yalu between Dandong in China's Liaoning province and Sinuiju in North Korea's Pyongan province. Key numbers: Opened Oct. 15. Bilateral trade rose 25% in 2025 to $2.73 billion, per Reuters. The prior main bridge was built in the 1940s. Why it matters: Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the bridge will promote economic and trade cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and deepen ties between the peoples. Trade had only last year returned to pre-COVID 19 levels.

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