Customs building erected as China-North Korea bridge nears opening

A structure bearing the label "Sinuiju Customs" was identified near the New Yalu River Bridge, indicating preparations for the crossing to become functional. The building, whose work began in early 2025, is situated on the Dandong side of the Yalu River and w. Although the bridge was completed in 2014, it has stayed shut for more than a decade, with the reasons for the delay still unclear.

Recent diplomatic warming between China and North Korea, highlighted by senior delegations and the reinstatement of a passenger rail service, has set the stage for the bridge's activation. The new span, designed with two lanes in each direction, follows the older Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge that carries a single-lane road and rail line. Completion of customs facilities on the Chinese side paves the way for increased bilateral commerce and people-to-people exchanges.