North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited China in his first trip to the country in a year, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. The agency cited an unidentified government source indicating that Mr. Kim arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong after crossing a newly opened bridge connecting the two nations.
South Korea’s presidential office and the Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, did not immediately confirm the report. Similarly, state media outlets in both North Korea and China made no immediate announcements regarding a visit by Mr. Kim.
According to Yonhap, Mr. Kim utilized the New Yalu River Bridge to reach Dandong. The crossing opened earlier this month following more than a decade of delays.
After years of prioritizing Russia by supplying thousands of troops and conventional weapons to support President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine in exchange for potential military and economic backing, Mr. Kim has lately sought to reinforce relations with China, North Korea's historical principal ally and economic foundation.
This trip follows a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pyongyang in June for a summit with Mr. Kim. At that meeting, Mr. Xi conveyed Beijing's readiness to broaden bilateral cooperation across trade, agriculture, construction, and technology, while Mr. Kim affirmed that maintaining strong ties with China remains a primary strategic objective.
Mr. Kim's previous visit to Beijing took place in September 2025, where he met with Mr. Xi and attended a military parade alongside Mr. Putin and other international leaders.