China-North Korea bridge over Yalu river opens 12 years late

A new bridge over the Yalu river connecting China and North Korea opened on Thursday, about 12 years later than originally planned.

The roughly three-kilometer, four-lane bridge links the Chinese city of Dandong with Sinuiju in North Korea. The prime ministers of both countries delivered video messages at the opening ceremony.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang called the bridge a symbol of the traditional friendship between the two countries and said he expected greater cooperation in the border region.

The bridge was originally planned to open in 2014, but work stalled after construction on the North Korean side was not completed.

Until now, more than 70 percent of official trade between the two countries has passed over a decades-old bridge, on which vehicles can move in only one direction at a time.

The new bridge is expected to ease pressure on the old structure and boost trade, transport and economic cooperation between the two countries.