A Daily NK source in North Pyongan province said Thursday that “exterior construction on the seven-story building near the Sinuiju bridge (New Yalu River Bridge) has been completed. This facility will serve as a border control and commercial complex.”
The source added that “workers who handled exterior construction have withdrawn, and interior construction crews are now installing interior plastering, tiles and lighting. The current target is completion by early November.”
A China-based North Korea source said the same day that “bidding preparations are under way for shops in the Dandong customs building. This is seen as swift store owners trying to secure prime locations ahead of the New Yalu River Bridge opening. Interior construction is already taking place based on requests from confirmed tenants.”
The Dandong customs area is also undergoing preparations for full operations, including nighttime lighting replacements and installation of new vehicle control equipment.
Coordination efforts intensify
The China-based source noted that “China began discussions with North Korea about coordination systems on Sept. 11 following central government directives.” The discussions focus on streamlining customs procedures and joint management of the New Yalu River Bridge, which the source described as institutional groundwork for future trade expansion.
The New Yalu River Bridge connects Sinuiju in North Korea’s North Pyongan province with Dandong in China’s Liaoning province. Completed in 2014, the bridge has remained closed for over a decade due to incomplete connecting roads and customs facilities on the North Korean side. These developments are being interpreted as signals that the bridge’s official opening is imminent.
The North Pyongan source said, “Local officials in Sinuiju say opening preparations have accelerated since the Beijing summit earlier this month, interpreting this as signs of trade expansion beyond mere normalization. Expectations are growing that the New Yalu River Bridge opening could bring major changes to trade operations and people’s lives.”
Recent signs of recovering North Korea-China trade include increased truck traffic in Dandong and more active container loading and unloading around customs areas, according to the China-based source.
Meanwhile, China is showing a willingness to accelerate discussions with North Korea about establishing a “border logistics special zone” in the Sinuiju-Dandong area.
The China-based source said, “Originally a project developed by local government with central approval, it has now been elevated to direct central government management and promotion. Beijing views this project as a breakthrough for economic stagnation in the three northeastern provinces.”
In February, Daily NK reported that a state-owned enterprise from Shenyang, Liaoning province, and North Korea’s Ministry of External Economic Relations discussed strategic economic cooperation to establish a logistics special zone in the Sinuiju-Dandong border area. China proposed investing in transportation infrastructure including roads and railways, plus creating light industry complexes in Sinuiju with textile and assembly factories.
