Kim Jong Un Makes Rare Visit to China, South Korean Media Reports
The North Korean leader's trip to China marks his first in a year, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited China, marking his first trip to the country in approximately a year, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. The agency cited an unnamed government source who stated that Kim arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong after crossing a newly opened bridge connecting the two nations.
Neither South Korea's presidential office nor its Unification Ministry, responsible for inter-Korean affairs, immediately confirmed the report. North Korean and Chinese state media have also not yet reported on a visit by Kim.
According to Yonhap, Kim utilized the New Yalu River Bridge, which began operations earlier this month after an extended delay of over a decade, for his arrival in Dandong.
This visit occurs as Kim has increasingly sought to bolster ties with China, North Korea's traditional primary ally and economic lifeline. This follows a period where North Korea prioritized strengthening relations with Russia, supplying troops and conventional weapons to support its war in Ukraine, potentially in exchange for military and economic aid.
The visit also comes several months after Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to Pyongyang in June, where he met with Kim. During their summit, Xi indicated Beijing's willingness to enhance bilateral cooperation across sectors such as trade, agriculture, construction, and technology. Kim, at the time, emphasized the strategic importance of ties with China.
Kim Jong Un's last known visit to Beijing was in September 2025, when he met with Xi and attended a military parade alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and other international leaders.