The New Yalu Bridge remains unfinished. (Photo : Getty Images)
The relationship between China and North Korea has been up in the air. This is the reason why the New Yalu River Bridge remains unfinished.
The $330 million bridge was constructed to renew ties between the two countries as it connects Dandong City and Pyongyang.
It was envisioned that Dandong is the new Singapore city. The Dandong New Zone now stands with malls which are barely filled and apartments half-finished.
Sun Lixia, a shopkeeper at a lighting store in Guomen Wanjia Home & Life Square Mall, said, "North Korea hasn't opened their end of the bridge and we can't really do anything about it. It's been bad for the local economy here. Who knows when they'll open it?"
She added, "Apartments haven't been selling quickly, a lot of people aren't willing to move here. There isn't even a proper hospital here, it's only been half completed."
"The government was counting on trade between China and North Korea to drive economic growth here but that hasn't happened," said a security guard named Liu, who works at an office building located on Commercial Street.
"To be honest, the main reason the new zone hasn't developed is because the bridge isn't open," Liu added.
China has been angered by the recent nuclear weapons testing by North Korea and as a result abandoned the bridge construction altogether.
According to Beijing-based journalist Mu Chunsan, "Turning completely away from North Korea, however, is not in line with Xi's policy of developing normal relations with China's neighbors. Normal relations involve a willingness to negotiate and resolve differences."
Jin Qiangyi, Director of Yanbian University's Centre for North and South Korea Studies, believes that the relations between the two countries are disappointing the Chinese government.
"We have a choice about whether we can push them to reform and open up, to get them to change," Jin said. "Of course political and military sanctions need to be stepped up, but civilian opening up and exchanges must be strengthened too."
