The Yalu River is a very special river for the people of China and North Korea. This river, which is not demarcated by the center line of the main channel, is not only a common property of China and North Korea, but also a witness to the history of the firm friendship between the two countries. In 2009, the leaders of China and North Korea reached a consensus to build a bridge over the Yalu River to promote the smooth development of the economy.
After a long discussion, the two sides finalized the construction plan, and China quickly invested hundreds of millions of yuan to start the construction work. As an infrastructure maniac, our country has always been among the best in terms of the speed of building bridges. In the past few years, the main body and basic structure of the bridge have been completed, and it has become a beautiful scenery on the Yalu River.
However, what is surprising is that this bridge, which has been invested by China with an investment of 2.2 billion, has not been opened to traffic after 8 years. What is the reason for this?
History. 
In October 2009, Premier Wen Jiabao visited the DPRK and agreed with the DPRK to jointly build the Yalu River Bridge to promote communication and economic cooperation between the two countries. This is a mutually beneficial and win-win move for China and North Korea, because since the end of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the two countries have maintained close exchanges.
In the early days of the construction of the new bridge on the Yalu River, North Korea showed no signs of breaking ground, and China invested 2.2 billion yuan as planned to start construction quickly. The main part of the new bridge was completed in only three years, that is, after the groundbreaking ceremony was completed in 2011.
The mystery of the unopened traffic.
The new bridge is nearing completion, but there is no movement on the North Korean side, which is suspicious. Although the new bridge can meet the needs of both China and North Korea and strengthen the ties between the two countries, why is North Korea reluctant to start construction?Why?
In fact, there is also an old bridge and a broken bridge on the Yalu River, which is called the "sister bridge" by the Dandong people. Both bridges have a long history and have played a key role in the exchange and exchange of people on both sides of the strait.
The first broken bridge was built in 1909 by the Japanese army in a bid for Chinese assets. Although Japan has demonstrated a certain industrial strength in construction, it has not brought benefits to China and North Korea. After the end of the Anti-Japanese War, the broken bridge became a passage between the two countries.
When the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea broke out in 1950, the US military blew up the broken bridge on the Yalu River in order to cut off the supply line in the rear of our country. Today, the bridge has become a commemorative attraction for the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, witnessing that period of history.
The old bridge was built in 1937 and became the main passage between China and North Korea during the Anti-Japanese War. Although the bridge can no longer bear the demand, it once played a key role in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.
North Korea's hesitation and trouble.
The construction of the new bridge over the Yalu River involves the original transportation planning of North Korea. The DPRK originally planned to build a bridge over the island of Wahwa in the old urban areas of Dandong and Sinuiju, but our country proposed to build a bridge between the new urban areas of Dandong and the southern part of Sinuiju 10 kilometers downward.
The DPRK has stated that if the route planned by the DPRK is adopted, it will have to bear the cost of building the embankment on the DPRK side. This could be a heavy burden for North Korea, which is lagging behind in economic development.
Resistance to the construction of a new bridge.
In 2015, China completed the main construction of the new bridge and began to deal with the accessories project. Experts were called in to inspect to ensure the smooth implementation of the project. However, despite the completion of the project, the DPRK has not yet started construction. North Korea may think that the old bridge can still barely support the two countries**, and the economy may not be able to quickly keep up with the pace of development of our country.
The location of the new bridge could also be the problem. North Korea's proposed location for the bridge is on top of the original plan and may require a larger financial investment. In addition, there may be some unsolved mysteries about cooperation and communication between the two countries.
The future of China-DPRK friendship is uncertain.
The problem of the new bridge on the Yalu River not being opened to traffic has put the friendship between China and the DPRK to the test. The "sister bridge" in the history of the two countries witnessed the difficult years of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and also witnessed the development of the two countries.
The problem with the new bridge may require more time and effort to solve. North Korea may need more economic support to ensure the smooth construction of the new bridge. This is also a hurdle on the road of China-DPRK friendship, which requires the joint efforts of both sides to maintain the close exchanges between the two countries, strengthen friendly cooperation, and make Xinqiao a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
The new bridge on the Yalu River has not yet been opened to traffic, and this symbol, which should have been a symbol of friendship and cooperation between China and North Korea, has become a difficult problem for both countries. Behind this question, we see the interweaving of histories and a series of complex factors between the two countries.
First of all, the construction of the new bridge began with a joint decision of the leaders of China and North Korea to promote economic development and strengthen ties between the two countries. However, due to geographical, economic and other reasons, the North Korean side was quite cautious in the construction of the bridge. For North Korea, although the old bridge cannot meet the growth of the first scale, it can still barely maintain the communication between the two countries under the current conditions, and the construction of the new bridge requires greater economic support, which may be a big burden for North Korea.
Secondly, the dispute between the two countries over the location of the new bridge is also an issue. North Korea's proposal to build a bridge on top of the original plan could lead to larger projects and higher costs, which to some extent exacerbated the contradictions between the two countries in cooperation. It also reflects differences in geopolitics and economics, as well as differences in how to balance the interests of both sides.
The "sister bridge" on the Yalu River has become a witness to history, especially the role of the old bridge in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea cannot be ignored. The presence of these historical sites complicates the construction of the new bridge. North Korea may want to preserve and promote historical memory by preserving the old bridge, but for our country, the construction of the new bridge represents development and the future.
Throughout the process, there were clearly some problems with cooperation, communication and understanding between the two countries. Despite the huge investment of our country and the great sincerity it has shown, the hesitation of the DPRK side has brought cooperation to an impasse. It is also a reminder of the importance of respecting each other's historical, cultural and economic realities in international cooperation.
The issue of the new bridge on the Yalu River not being opened to traffic is not only a microcosm of the difficulties in cooperation between the two countries, but also a test of friendship and understanding. Resolving this issue will require more patience, dialogue and joint efforts on both sides. China and the DPRK should find a balance in cooperation, consider each other's position and needs as much as possible, promote the construction of the new bridge, and create more favorable conditions for the in-depth development of friendly relations between the two countries. Only through continuous communication and understanding can the new bridge become a new milestone in the friendship between China and North Korea.
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