Kim Jong-un makes surprise visit to China, crossing newly opened bridge

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to China on Saturday, his first in over a year, with attention turning to a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Yonhap, citing a government source, reported that Kim arrived in Dandong, Liaoning Province, via the New Yalu River Bridge. Chinese Premier Li Qiang was reported to have traveled to the area.

The visit effectively shrugged off recent rumors of Kim's death. It also comes one day before China's Oct. 25 commemoration of its entry into the Korean War, and is widely seen as a show of strength in North Korea-China ties.

Kim crossed into China via the New Yalu River Bridge, which links Dandong with Sinuiju in North Korea's North Pyongan Province. The bridge officially opened Thursday — 12 years after its completion — raising expectations for stronger economic and trade exchanges between the two countries.

The visit comes ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on Nov. 18-19. With US President Donald Trump signaling his intent to resume North Korea-US dialogue before year's end, the outcome of Kim's trip is drawing close attention.

Speculation about a possible visit had emerged earlier Saturday after Kyodo News, citing diplomatic sources, reported strict traffic controls and hotel reservation restrictions in parts of Dandong.

This marks Kim's sixth visit to China and his first since last September, a gap of about 13 months. During that trip, Kim traveled to Beijing for China's 80th anniversary celebrations marking victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan, staying from Sept. 2 to 4 and holding a summit with Xi as well as talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

North Korea announced that visit through state media, but this one was carried out without any prior notice.