▲ Kim Jong Un meets China's Wang Huning
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Dandong in China's Liaoning Province yesterday (October 24) to meet Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and expressed his commitment to further strengthen ties of friendship between North Korea and China.
North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported today (October 25) that Kim visited Dandong on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' entry into the Korean War and toured the Memorial Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea together with Chairman Wang.
At the memorial hall, Kim said, "We will pass down from generation to generation our eternal gratitude to the Chinese people who helped our revolution with their blood," adding, "We will forever and firmly carry forward the invincible DPRK-China friendship forged in blood."
To commemorate his visit to the memorial hall, Kim presented a commemorative plaque featuring photographic documents of late President Kim Il Sung, inscribed with his own handwritten message: "Piously recalling the noble footsteps of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers, I offer eternal gratitude and highest respect."
Later, during talks with Chairman Wang, Kim expressed his gratitude to "General Secretary Xi Jinping for paying special and meticulous attention to our visit" and requested that Wang convey his best wishes.
Chairman Wang also conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings and assessed that the visit held great significance in advancing traditional friendly relations between the two countries.
KCNA reported that Chairman Wang hosted a banquet to welcome Kim in accordance with President Xi's special instructions.
Yesterday, Kim also visited a bus factory in Dandong, touring its production facilities and products.
Later, while returning home via the newly completed bridge over the Yalu River connecting North Korea and China, Kim expressed his expectation that "this bridge will fulfill its historic mission of connecting the two countries and binding our hearts even more firmly."
Kim was accompanied on the visit by senior North Korean party and government officials, including Workers' Party Secretary Jo Yong-won, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, and Workers' Party Department Director Kim Yo-jong.
Meanwhile, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency released detailed remarks regarding economic and strategic cooperation between the two sides that were not reported by North Korean state media.
According to Xinhua, Chairman Wang Huning said during his meeting with Kim, "Through the historic mutual visits between the top leaders of both countries in September last year and June this year, a series of important agreements were reached," assessing that China-North Korea relations have entered a new historic period.
Wang added, "We hope to unswervingly implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, and further advance China-North Korea relations with our shared socialist cause as a bond."
In particular, Chairman Wang emphasized, "Taking the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge as an opportunity, we will expand personnel exchanges and economic and trade cooperation to bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries."
He also stated, "We will strengthen strategic communication and cooperation to create a peaceful and stable external environment to safeguard our respective sovereignty, security, and development interests."
According to the Chinese announcement, Kim also described President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea in June as a "milestone" in developing bilateral relations.
Kim said, "This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance," adding, "We thank China for supporting and assisting North Korea's socialist cause over a long period."
Kim emphasized, "The prospects for cooperation between the two sides are very broad," adding, "We hope to work together with China to carry forward our historical friendship and expand practical cooperation to bring tangible benefits to the peoples of both nations."
Xinhua reported that Kim also wished for the successful hosting of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
The public reports from both sides did not include specific mentions regarding North Korea-U.S. dialogue or the easing of sanctions against Pyongyang.
However, it is notable that Chairman Wang Huning, while emphasizing the expansion of economic and trade cooperation alongside strategic communication and collaboration, highlighted creating a "peaceful and stable external environment" to safeguard each nation's sovereignty, security, and development interests.
With speculation rising over the possibility of North Korea-U.S. dialogue ahead of next month's APEC summit in China, observers suggest the two sides may have exchanged views on diplomatic and security issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and relations between Pyongyang and Washington.
(Photo: KCNA, Yonhap News)
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