China-DPRK border town's people hope for peace and stability

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For people living in Dandong, the border town of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), they are hoping that the coming meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump could help ease tensions on the peninsula, and boost the stalled economy.

The new district of the Chinese city, Dandong, was built on the hopes of booming trade and development. A cross-border bridge called Moon Island is reported to have cost more than 300 million US dollars.

The Moon Island bridge cost over 300 million US dollars. /CGTN Screenshot

A Dandong real estate agent said Moon Island is only 680 meters from DKPK’s second largest city.

However, the bridge is still lying idle. Rising diplomatic tensions have affected other businesses as well. Dandong trader Mr. Li, who has a small business, said he made much less than last year.

Professor Wang Dong of Peking University said Dandong residents hope the DPRK will open up and reform, and is therefore gearing toward peaceful development. “I think I would argue that it is the policy goal of China. Denuclearization is step one.”

For now, though, the historical port city has to live with inactivity for a while longer.