Dandong:China and North Korea today inaugurated a new bridge over the Yalu River, linking the Chinese city of Dandong with North Korea's Sinuiju. This development follows a 12-year delay, according to the China News Agency (Xinhua).
According to Oman News Agency, the bridge spans 3 kilometers and has four lanes. It is expected to enhance economic and trade exchanges and improve people-to-people ties between the two nations. Observers believe that the bridge will gradually improve logistics efficiency and alleviate the pressure on the existing bridge, which has been handling more than 70 percent of the official trade between China and North Korea with its limited capacity of a single railway line and a vehicle lane operating in one direction at a time.
The inauguration of the Yalu River bridge comes shortly after the opening of another bridge between Russia and North Korea. Initially, the bridge was slated to begin service in 2014 after China completed its construction work. However, delays occurred due to North Korea's inability to finish the required work on its side, preventing the bridge's timely opening.
