China: Border bridge to North Korea closed Dec. 11-20

Event

On Monday, December 11, Chinese authorities temporarily closed a border bridge connecting the Chinese city of Dandong to the North Korean city of Sinuiju. The border will remain closed for at least ten days, until December 20.

Context

Chinese authorities justified the closure saying that North Korea is conducting maintenance on the bridge; however Beijing may be using the closure as a warning to North Korea, whose nuclear development program keeps accelerating.

Advice

Individuals present in China are advised to take this closure into account if traveling to North Korea by road.