▲ The Korean Central News Agency reported on June 9 that a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place at the Kumsusan Guesthouse on June 8. Chairman Kim and President Xi pose for a commemorative photo.
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping today (October 1) on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of China's National Day, highlighting the blood alliance between North Korea and China and emphasizing his commitment to further advancing traditional bilateral friendly relations and defending common interests.
In the message released today through North Korean state media, including the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Rodong Sinmun, Chairman Kim stated, "The history of DPRK-China friendship, forged in blood and carried forward through genuine comradely friendship, can never change its course, no matter how the international situation changes."
Kim said, "It is the steadfast will of our party and government to continuously elevate and develop our traditional relationship of unity and cooperation, with socialism—our common ideology, common banner, and common cause—at its core."
He continued, "Taking this opportunity, I reaffirm my stance to work actively alongside General Secretary Comrade to lead DPRK-China relations, which have deep and enduring historical roots, to a new strategic height, thereby thoroughly defending the mutual interests of our two countries, safeguarding regional peace and stability, and delivering greater well-being to the peoples of both nations."
Referring to his summits with President Xi held in Beijing in September of last year and in Pyongyang in June of this year, Kim also noted that both sides had "confirmed our stance and will to develop the steadfast and special DPRK-China friendly relations, which have shared ideology and life and death, into the strongest strategic relationship between socialist states toward a shared beautiful future." He assessed that, in line with this, the two nations grandly commemorated the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between North Korea and China and have been pushing forward exchanges and cooperation projects in various sectors.
China's National Day is one of the country's most significant holidays, commemorating Mao Zedong's proclamation of the founding of the People's Republic of China from atop the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on October 1, 1949.
Kim has sent a congratulatory message to President Xi every year to mark the day.
The congratulatory message ran around 500 characters on National Day in 2024, when North Korea-China relations were in a lull amid deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, before expanding to around 800 characters last year and to over 1,100 characters this year.
Regarding bilateral friendly relations, the phrasing has also evolved: in 2024, the message stayed at the level of continuing to develop "traditional DPRK-China friendship"; last year, it incorporated the pledge to develop ties "no matter how the international situation changes"; and this year, it changed to emphasize that ties were "forged in blood and carried forward through genuine comradely friendship" and will remain steadfast regardless of shifts in the international arena.
This appears to reflect relations that have grown closer through Kim's visit to China last year to attend the Victory Day military parade and President Xi's visit to Pyongyang this year.
Yesterday (September 30), a National Day reception hosted by Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun was also held at the Chinese Embassy in North Korea, KCNA reported.
From North Korea, attendees included Kim Hyong-sik, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly; Mun Song-hyok, Vice Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea; Kim Myong-su, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Ryu Un-hae, Vice Minister of External Economic Relations.
(Photo: KCNA, Yonhap News)
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