North Korea's Kim Jong Un visits China via Dandong bridge

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in China ‌on Saturday, visiting the neighboring country via a newly opened bridge, Reuters reported, citing a South Korean government official.

Kim arrived in Dandong through the New Yalu River Bridge connecting North Korea and China, the official said on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Kim ​in the border city, another South Korean official familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity as they are not ​authorized to speak to media.

Kim was expected to return to North Korea after Saturday's visit, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

A South Korean official familiar ​with the matter told Reuters it was unlikely Kim would visit Beijing ahead of high-level meetings of China's Communist Party from Monday.

China and North Korea opened the 3-km (2-mile) New Yalu River Bridge, their most significant land border crossing, this month after a long delay, aiming to rejuvenate trade and commerce after years of strained ties and pandemic-related disruptions.