The North Korean leadership appears to have prioritized the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge, with a visit by a high-ranking official to the customs and immigration construction site expected shortly. This move indicates a shift away from reliance on a single, aging bridge toward a full-scale expansion of overland trade with China. By facilitating human exchanges, such as tourism, the regime aims to leverage both the Chinese and Russian axes to achieve its military and economic development goals. In particular, it is anticipated that North Korea will develop the Sinuiju Special Economic Zone, transforming it into a major customs and logistics hub for trade with China.