▲ Officials for the two sides sign the deal on the 10th (©KCNA)

The North Korean and Chinese authorities have signed an agreement on the construction and management of the cross-border bridge between Manpo in Jagang Province and Jian in China, Chosun Central News Agency reported yesterday.

Vice Minister in the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Park Kil Yeon and PRC Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Hongcai inked the deal at a ceremony in Pyongyang (see picture).

The bridge forms part of efforts on both sides to improve cross-border transit. Presently, all the older bridges joining North Korea and China are single-lane, and as such are the source of bottlenecks at times of high freight volumes. Such occasions are currently rare, but with both sides are keen to improve trade links, infrastructure improvements are necessary.