Opening of major N. K.-China bridge `indefinitely delayed`

The opening of a major new bridge linking North Korea and China has been "indefinitely delayed," China`s state-run Global Times reported Friday, blaming the North for failing to build facilities for its part of the bridge as scheduled.

According to the report, the bridge connecting the Chinese city of Dandong and the North`s border city of Sinuiju was scheduled for opening on Thursday. However, it was indefinitely postponed as the construction work on the North Korean side was not carried out at all. Zhang Hui, chairman of a Chinese construction company in charge of building the bridge, was quoted as saying that construction was delayed for nearly a year due to various reasons."

For the bridge to open, the North had to build access roads in Sinuiju. However, the construction work has yet to begin. The Chinese daily reported that the North had not even broken ground at all, citing remarks that although China had built a bridge, the North Korean side remains a "vegetable field." China has foot the bill for the 328-million-dollar construction project but is waiting for the North`s decision.