North Korea Makes Significant Progress on New Trade Facility With China
After years of delay, North Korea has made significant progress on a trade crossing and immigration facility near China, according to commercial satellite imagery. The site sits at the foot of the New Yalu Bridge in Sinuiju. Its rapid recent progress suggests the bridge could finally be opened to regular traffic soon.
The New Yalu Bridge is a 3-kilometer-long link between China and North Korea that was completed in 2014 but has never been officially opened. China appears to have finished immigration and cargo facilities on its side, but significant work on the North Korean side did not begin until last year.
On satellite imagery from August 30, significant progress has been made over the summer months. Several large warehouses now have roofs, and exterior construction on the complex’s main building and several support buildings appear complete.
Throughout the facility, roadways have been paved and several vehicles are stationed in the parking lot. In one part of the complex, landscaping appears to have been completed outside of support buildings.
A new gateway structure has also been constructed over the roadway where the bridge touches North Korean soil.
On the bridge itself, vehicles are visible on carriageways on both the Chinese and North Korean sides of the bridge, further suggesting preparations are in place for regular traffic to begin.
While the project has made significant progress over the past few months, work to complete the facility remains.
On the North Korean side, several trucks are present at the foot of the bridge, and further construction efforts are underway. Within the complex, there are currently no road markings indicating the flow of traffic; it is unclear if asphalt will be laid over the concrete.
The new bridge is expected to partially replace the aging Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge to the north, which carries both road and rail traffic between Dandong and Sinuiju. Opening the New Yalu River Bridge should relieve truck traffic on either side of the existing crossing.
Work on the New Yalu River Bridge infrastructure coincides with efforts to complete and open a new road bridge with Russia at Tumangang. There, it is the Russians who are yet to complete work, while the North Korean facility has been finished.