Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun visited the entry and exit facilities on both sides near the New Amnokgang Bridge on the 16th, a day after the opening ceremony of the bridge connecting North Korea and China.

The Chinese Embassy in North Korea stated today (the 17th) that Ambassador Wang visited the port of entry facilities of the New Amnokgang Bridge yesterday morning, accompanied by officials from China's Liaoning Province and Dandong, as well as North Korea's North Pyongan Province and Sinuiju.

After touring the Chinese side's passenger inspection building, Ambassador Wang went through immigration procedures using his passport.

He also visited the North Korean passenger inspection building, general trade zone, cargo yard, and duty-free shop.

The Chinese Embassy in North Korea stated that both sides evaluated that "the New Amnokgang Bridge has officially opened under the strategic guidance of the leaders of North Korea and China, providing an important milestone for strengthening mutual connectivity between the two countries and deepening the traditional friendship between North Korea and China."

"Both sides will ensure that the role of the bridge is practically fulfilled, deepen economic and trade cooperation, promote local exchanges and visits, and enhance the well-being of the two peoples," the embassy said, adding, "Through this, we will actively contribute to the socialist development of North Korea and China."

Ambassador Wang noted that this opening is an important achievement in implementing the consensus reached between the leaders of North Korea and China, stating that it has "injected strong momentum into expanding North Korea-China economic and trade cooperation and fostering closer interpersonal exchanges."

"I hope that both sides will work together to seize this historical opportunity," he said, adding, "We hope to continue strengthening communication and cooperation between management authorities of both sides, optimizing customs clearance, continuously promoting local practical cooperation and people-to-people communication, and ensuring that North Korea-China relations continue to develop with the times."

The New Amnokgang Bridge is a four-lane, 3,026-meter-long bridge connecting Dandong in China's Liaoning Province, the largest trade hub between North Korea and China, and Sinuiju in North Korea's North Pyongan Province. Completed in 2014, its opening had been delayed due to inadequate connecting roads and customs clearance facilities on the North Korean side, before it officially opened on the 15th.

Meanwhile, ahead of the opening, some observers predicted that since human exchanges—such as group tours to North Korea for Chinese tourists and the issuance of visas and tourist passes—have not yet normalized, the impact of the New Amnokgang Bridge's opening will likely be concentrated on the freight transport sector for the time being.

This is because holders of ordinary Chinese passports must have a North Korean visa or tourist pass to travel to North Korea.

(Photo: Capture from the social media of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea, Yonhap News)