The Tumen River, a tri-border waterway between China, North Korea, and Russia, is emerging as a point of contention in Sino-North Korean relations. A small section of the river, bordering Russia and North Korea, currently prevents China from gaining direct access to open sea routes. Despite a recent summit between Chinese and North Korean leaders, the issue of opening the waterway was not publicly addressed. Beijing has consistently sought to negotiate access through the river with both neighboring countries. The lack of progress impacts China’s trade and strategic interests in the region. Observers believe the river’s status is a key indicator of the evolving dynamics between the three nations. The silence from the summit suggests ongoing difficulties in reaching a resolution.