New China-North Korea bridge opens after more than a decade of delay

A new bridge linking China and North Korea has opened after more than a decade of delay, signaling deeper ties between the two countriesBEIJING -- A new bridge linking China and North Korea opened Thursday after more than a decade of delay, signaling deeper ties between the two countries. China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that a ceremony for the launch of the New Yalu River Bridge was held in the morning. An online video from state media outlet China News Service showed trucks adorned with the national flags of China and North Korea waiting on the bridge, which was also decorated with the flags. Beijing expected that the four-lane, 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) crossing, which connects the northeastern Chinese city of Dandong to the North Korean city of Sinuiju, would further promote economic, trade and “people-to-people" exchanges.The bridge initially was expected to enter use in 2014, when China had apparently completed construction on its side. But the date came with no opening and without North Korea doing corresponding work on its side.The absence of substantial work in Sinuiju fueled speculation that Pyongyang was wary of becoming more economically dependent on China or d...