U.S. Says China Must Uphold North Korea Sanctions as New Yalu River Bridge Opens

[Financial News] The U.S. State Department said China must not help North Korea evade sanctions or develop illegal weapons in connection with the New Yalu River Bridge between North Korea and China, which opened on the 15th.
On the 20th, the U.S. public broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) reported that a State Department spokesperson stressed sanctions compliance in response to a VOA query about the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge. He said, “The opening of a new bridge between China and North Korea underscores the importance of ensuring that increased cross-border trade does not facilitate sanctions evasion or support North Korea’s illicit weapons programs.” The spokesperson emphasized, “China is obligated to fully implement UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea, including restrictions on prohibited goods and technologies and revenue-generating activities.” He added, “China voted in favor of these sanctions and must ensure they are enforced at its borders.”
The New Yalu River Bridge, a four-lane road bridge carrying traffic in both directions, connects Dandong in China’s Liaoning Province with Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province, North Korea. It officially opened on the 15th. The bridge had already been completed in 2014 but remained unused for about 12 years because of problems with the connecting road on the North Korean side. In a video address at the opening ceremony, Chinese Premier Li Qiang described the new bridge as a new milestone symbolizing the traditional friendship between North Korea and China, and emphasized improving customs procedures and expanding cooperation in border areas.
On the 19th, Japan’s Sankei Shimbun predicted that trade and people-to-people exchanges between North Korea and China could become more active following the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge. Based on its analysis of Chinese customs data, Sankei reported that total trade between North Korea and China, combining exports and imports, amounted to $2.27264 billion (about 3.0578 trillion won) from January through September. That was an 18.6% increase from the same period last year.
Trade between North Korea and China fell sharply after the UN Security Council adopted sanctions resolutions in 2017 related to North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, and contracted further in 2020 when North Korea closed its borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It has steadily increased since then, but remains far below the $4 billion (about 5.382 trillion won) recorded from January through September 2017.
[email protected] Park Jong-won Reporter