North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Returns to Pyongyang After Visiting China's Dandong

Key summary

On October 25, Reuters reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled back to his country by car after visiting Dandong in China's Liaoning province. He crossed the newly opened Yalu River bridge connecting China and North Korea, which officially began operation in mid-October. The visit occurred amid widespread rumors regarding Kim's health issues, including reports of his death. The trip is viewed as a symbol of efforts by both Chinese and North Korean governments to expand trade relations ahead of US President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November. During the visit, Kim stated that the North Korean people would remember the year of fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the Chinese people forever and would pass on gratitude from one generation to another to the Chinese people who aided the North Korean revolution with their blood and flesh.