The return of the friend from the north: Kim Jong-un crossed the bridge to China

Kim Jong-un arrived for his first visit to China in about a year, amid tightening relations with Beijing and Moscow and tensions with the US. South Korea estimates there is a chance of a meeting between him and Trump next month.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived for a visit to China, the South Korean government reported this morning (Saturday). This is the dictator's first visit to the neighboring country in about a year, and he crossed the new Yalu River bridge connecting the two countries, which opened to traffic only this month. Experts note that the opening of the bridge, after a delay of more than a decade, symbolizes the tightening of economic and political ties between the regimes. The visit illustrates the effort to strengthen ties with China, the traditional ally, after a period in which Kim prioritized his relations with Russia, including sending thousands of soldiers and weapons to support Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. The trip takes place a few months after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang last June. At the same time, Kim maintains a tough line toward Seoul and rejects the offers of US President Donald Trump to renew diplomatic contacts. However, South Korea's intelligence agency estimated that there is about a 50% chance of a meeting between Trump and Kim on the sidelines of the APEC summit next month in Shenzhen, China.