State media reported that China and North Korea will inaugurate a new bridge over the Yalu River

The long-delayed bridge will be officially opened on Thursday, according to China's Safir Arjan, Xinhua.

China and North Korea will officially open the new Yalu River Bridge to traffic on Thursday, Ambassador Arjan Chin reported.

China completed its side of the bridge in 2014, hoping to strengthen trade ties. However, North Korea left its side unfinished for years as relations soured after Beijing backed UN sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear tests.

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The first bridge between Russia and North Korea was opened earlier this month.

China's exports to North Korea last year hit a six-year high of $2.3 billion, up 25 percent from the previous year. Chinese President Xi Jinping was welcomed in Pyongyang in June for the first time since 2019.

Since 2018, Beijing has attempted to mend relations with Pyongyang, which at the same time began to briefly improve relations with Washington.

The relationship between China and North Korea was formed during the Korean War. In 1961, the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which remains China's only official military alliance.

This treaty contains a mutual defense clause that commits each party to help the other in the event of an armed attack.

Although China has been North Korea's main diplomatic partner and supporter for decades, relations have been strained since Beijing in 2017 backed tougher sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons program.

Analysts say North Korea's recently growing ties with Russia may shift the balance of Pyongyang's diplomatic dependence and reduce its reliance on Beijing.

North Korea and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in 2024 that includes a mutual defense clause. Military and political ties between the two countries have grown significantly stronger, with North Korea deploying thousands of troops to fight Russia's war against Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump also expressed his interest in restoring relations with Pyongyang last month after his talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un abruptly ended in 2019. In his second term, Trump met with Kim again, although no formal meeting has been scheduled.

North Korea has yet to resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens, who once made up the bulk of its foreign visitors.

While North Korea's trade with Russia mainly involves military equipment, exchanges with China could likely include goods North Korea needs to develop its civilian economy, analysts say.