North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong on a visit to the neighbouring country via a newly opened bridge, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday, citing a South Korean government source, Reuters reported from Seoul.
Source: Reuters via SRN News
A spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry did not have an immediate comment, and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters said. Bloomberg also carried Yonhap's report of the arrival. Neither Pyongyang nor Beijing had confirmed the visit at the time of reporting, so the trip is reported here exactly as Yonhap and the wires have stated it.
A crossing opened this month
China and North Korea officially opened their most significant land border crossing in Dandong this month, aiming to rejuvenate trade and commerce after years of strained ties and pandemic-related disruptions, according to Reuters.
Kim's last known visit to China was in September 2025, to attend the 80th Victory Day celebrations in Beijing, when he held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi made a state visit to North Korea in June, in a sign of improving ties between the two allies.
US President Donald Trump has been eager to jump-start talks with North Korea, but US and South Korean officials see fading chances of him meeting Kim this year, Reuters reported on Friday. China hosts a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum next month in Shenzhen, which Trump is expected to attend.
The arrival rests on Yonhap's report citing a South Korean government source. Seoul's Unification Ministry offered no immediate comment and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond — Awaaz Punjab will update this story when either government confirms the visit.