Sinuiju:A bridge between North Korea and China is set to officially open to traffic this week after remaining idle for over a decade post-construction.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the New Yalu River Bridge, which connects the North Korean city of Sinuiju with Dandong in China, will commence operations on Thursday, as reported by China's Xinhua News Agency. An opening ceremony is expected to take place on the same day.
Construction of the four-lane motor bridge began in October 2011 and concluded in October 2014. However, it remained unused as North Korea had not completed the necessary infrastructure on its side. Recently, vehicles have been observed crossing the 3,024-meter bridge, suggesting potential test runs.
The bridge is anticipated to enhance trade and exchanges between North Korea and China, following commitments made by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their June summit in Pyongyang to strengthen bilateral ties. It will serve as a supplement to the existing Friendship Bridge, which has been the main crossing since 1943, and is expected to alleviate congestion on the old, one-way road connecting the two nations.