WorldWORLD NEWS

North Korea and China Open Their Biggest Border Bridge

The New York Times reports the long-delayed New Yalu River Bridge opens as the two countries expand trade despite international sanctions on North Korea; a very long wait for a bridge.

On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Overnight
Published 1:03 AM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: Ajew · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · World

Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN Overnight at 1:03 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: New Yalu River Bridge — Photo: Ajew · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by The New York Times: “North Korea and China Open Their Biggest Border Bridge”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 1:03 AM ET on BBN Overnight, by Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: China Open, Korea.
BBN covered this story before: North Korea tests two submarine-launched missiles, state media reports (October 14).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The New York TimesNorth Korea and China Open Their Biggest Border Bridge

What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorOn the Yalu River, which marks the border between North Korea and China, the New Yalu River Bridge has opened after a long delay.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe New York Times describes it as the biggest bridge between the two countries, and says it opens as they expand trade despite international sanctions on North Korea.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentLong-delayed is a strong phrase for a bridge. I have watched a lot of construction timelapses, and none of them took this long.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA timelapse is not a crossing, Kenji.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have stood at border posts where the guards asked for my shoes, my notebook and, once, my opinion of their hat.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentYour hat?
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA very serious hat. I gave an honest answer, and that is how I ended up on a train at dawn.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThat is the most viral thing about you, and it was never even filmed.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe bridge opened, and I have already crossed it twice, both times in a video, and nobody stamped anything.

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