Unification Ministry: North Korea Sends Delegation to China for Treaty Anniversary for First Time in 7 Years, Elevates Rank

The Ministry of Unification stated that it is closely monitoring North Korea's recent moves, noting that Pyongyang has dispatched a delegation to China for an event commemorating the signing of the North Korea-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance for the first time in seven years, while also elevating the rank of the delegation head.
Jang Yun-jeong, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, provided this response during a regular briefing at the Government Complex Seoul when asked about the visit to China by the delegation led by North Korean Premier Pak Tae-song.
In 2019, North Korea sent a Workers' Party International Department delegation led by First Vice Department Director Kim Song-nam to an event in China marking the 58th anniversary of the treaty's signing.
The ministry analyzed that the rank of the current delegation is higher even when compared to the 50th anniversary of the treaty in 2011, when North Korea sent a delegation led by Yang Hyong-sop, Vice President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.
"As North Korea and China announced during their summit in June that they would hold a grand commemorative event for the 65th anniversary, we will continue to monitor the situation," Deputy Spokesperson Jang said.
The previous day, North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported that a party and government delegation led by Premier Pak Tae-song would pay an official visit to China at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that the North Korean delegation would pay an official visit to China from July 10 to 12.
(Photo: Korean Central Television, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.