There has been a sharp increase of North Korea coverage following the rumors of Kim Jong un's death, begun online, Oct. 18, which were quickly put to rest among the North Korea follower/ expert community. It think it was within less than 24 hours when pictures of Kim at the Clothes and Shoes Expo went on line, tending to prove he was still quite alive. The source of the story cast serious doubt on the rumors, coming from a Chinese dissident living the US, who allegedly was the source of an earlier Xi is dead rumor not too long ago. A few days after his reported death Kim addressed a military audience of junior officers with an ideological diatribe about corruption, wrong thinking, foreign threats, etc. iirc.

After the clothing expo "proof of life" photos went public, which I had seen on the NK News/ KCNA connection, it was reported that all web sites in North Korea went down for about 24 hours. This was reported as a cyberattack against the North. Sources outside North Korea suggested it was just server overload caused by the rumors. During this Kim is dead episode, there were discussion of instability, possible coup etc., in pro-west social media. Later appearing photos of Kim at the expo and military assembly, were even speculated to be "doubles" posing as Kim although it was obvious to anyone no matter how ill informed that the rumors were bs. Then the reporting drifted into the succession issue, Kim's health, and who would succeed him. Would it be Kim Yo-jong, who had recently appeared on the DMZ, or Kim's daughter Kim Ju-ae? Some scoffed that Kim Jong-un must have at least six doubles to make these continued rumors possible up to his sudden appearance at the new Yalu River Bridge on Oct 24.

At the same time, a rather rickety and sarcastic review of the career of Kim Yo-jong, Kim's sister, appeared on DongA Channel A news. There was some interesting video and photo evidence of her public appearances over the years, which I watched in between the sarcastic comedy routines. A super fat Kim Jong-un look alike was present for the discussion with a few defectors I recognized from earlier programming. The general theme: Isn't Kim Yo-jong's status in decline since Kim Ju-ae's public emergence, etc.?

So the sudden one day diplomatic event of Kim taking his limo to the new bridge to meet, China's fourth ranking Wang Huning, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, leading the Chinese delegation at the bridge was a surprise. Kim's delegation then went on to a memorial site, meeting with full military honors, complete with a historical museum visit commemorating the cooperation of China and North Korean forces during the Korean conflict. China commemorates it's intervention in the Korean conflict event on Oct 25. KIm also visited a nearby Chinese automotive factory near Dandong.

Xi himself wasn't present due to the late notice, and an already scheduled meeting of the 5th Central Committee Congress or something like that. In spite of this, even the most critical experts regarded the diplomatic event as a fitting ceremony to meet and welcome Kim and to celebrate the occasion. The presence of Wang Yi implies some discussion of what might take place or not at the APEC conference in Shenzhen, November 18-19. The South Korean analysts of course were hoping for some possible meeting between Trump and Kim. My personal reaction would be don't get your hopes up. The fact situation is this, Kim has virtually completely reversed his humiliation by Trump at the Hanoi summit. South Korea has been placed in a difficult tense situation by antics of Trump, then Bidden and company with Yoon, and now the current public statements of Gen. Brunson, and the 8th Army Commander, continuing to ramp up anti-China rhetoric. Relations between North and South Korea are terrible at this point. I saw a video with photos of new 122 mm artillery positions openly pointing at South Korea near the point where the DMZ and NLL on the West Sea meet. The photos were taken from the South Korean side of the river. Reportedly, new mobile 155mm artillery positions were confirmed north of the DMZ in North Korea.

Kim in celebratory procession on the New Yalu River Bridge with Wang Huning, and Wang Yi. Screen shots from YTN live coverage Oct. 25 below. The name of the bridge inscribed on the support tower in Chinese appears to be China Chosun Amnok River Bridge:

Kim accompanied by Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui; sister, Kim Yo Jong; and confidante, Hyon Song Wol, (CC member, aide, arts and protocol), at the ceremony Oct 24 in Dandong. These three accompanied Kim on the long train ride to Hanoi, in 2019. I didn't see Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju or daughter Kim Ju-ae, at the recent Oct 24 visit to China, but that isn't dispositive.

Simone Chun's take. I agree with many of her characterizations but I'm not optimistic based upon US past performance-

Kim Jong Un’s Visit to China: A Preparatory Step Toward a U.S.–North Korea Summit?
김정은의 중국 방문: 북미 정상회담을 위한 사전 준비 단계인가?

https://t.co/fqvjc9xW2Z

— KoreaUpdate (@SimoneChun) October 24, 2026

The picture above credited to ABC news used by Simone in her article, is the old bridge crossing the Yalu at the Dandong- Sinuiju crossing. There is a rail line and a one lane road bridge, with a 20 ton limit.

(I've corrected the mistakes I made concerning Kim's daughter's name- Kim Ju-ae. Chu Mi-ae is a democratic politician in South Korea).