Business · Singapore Bureau
North Korea's Kim Jong Un crosses into China via Dandong border crossing
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has travelled to China across the Dandong bridge, according to media reports. The visit marks his first confirmed cross-border trip since September 2025.
LSN Singapore ·
Kim Jong Un crossed into China via the Dandong Bridge, which connects North Korea's border city with the Chinese province of Liaoning, according to multiple media accounts on Thursday. The crossing represents a significant diplomatic movement by the reclusive leader, who has maintained limited international travel in recent years.
The Dandong crossing serves as one of the primary transit points between North Korea and China, facilitating both official delegations and high-level diplomatic visits. The exact purpose and duration of Kim's visit to China remain unclear, though such journeys typically involve meetings with Chinese officials at provincial or national levels.
Sources indicated that Kim's previous confirmed visit to China occurred in September 2025, making this journey noteworthy given the extended interval between trips. China remains North Korea's closest ally and primary economic partner, with regular high-level exchanges forming a cornerstone of bilateral relations.
The visit underscores ongoing engagement between Pyongyang and Beijing amid broader geopolitical tensions in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. Officials in Seoul and other regional capitals are likely monitoring developments closely as the diplomatic visit unfolds.