The Situation in North Korea

Kim in China – crossed via a bridge that was twelve years late in opening

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has visited China for the first time in over a year, according to reports from several media outlets citing state-controlled Chinese media.

He made a short visit, crossing a three-kilometer-long bridge that connects the two neighboring countries.

The bridge spans the Yalu River and was inaugurated in mid-October; both nations hope it will strengthen their trade relationship. According to AFP, the bridge was built by China and has been complete for over twelve years, but its opening was delayed because there were no connecting roads on the North Korean side.

Expert: South Korea needs to have something to offer Kim

The South Korean government may view it as a positive development that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is focusing on economic development rather than military buildup. This is according to Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international relations at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, who spoke to the AP.

The South Korean government advocates for increased dialogue with North Korea. However, the North’s relationship with China and Russia is not necessarily a good thing from a South Korean perspective, Easley notes.

“If Kim gains greater benefits from China and Russia, it is unclear what Seoul could offer that would be worth the political risk Pyongyang associates with increased engagement.”

This follows the inauguration of a new bridge connecting North Korea and its neighbor, China, in mid-October.