North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visit to Dandong in China's Liaoning Province, a border region near North Korea, on October 24—one day ahead of China's anniversary of its entry into the Korean War—has sparked evaluations that the Korean War is being utilized as a medium to strengthen bilateral relations.

According to outlets such as Xinhua News Agency, Kim laid flowers during a single-day itinerary at the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea Memorial Hall, a facility commemorating the Chinese military's participation in the Korean War located in Dandong.

The phrase refers to the Chinese designation for the Korean War, signifying China's assistance to North Korea against the United States.

The Chinese People's Volunteer Army suffered approximately 197,000 deaths during the Korean War, and October 25 is commemorated as the anniversary of their first victory after entering the war.

The memorial hall reopened in September 2020, marking the 70th anniversary of Chinese military entry into the Korean War, following a closure for expansion work beginning in 2014.

It is filled with exhibits addressing the Chinese perspective on the Korean War, including the Battle of Lake Changjin and the Battle of Sanggeomryeong, which China promotes as major wartime accomplishments, alongside exhibition spaces dedicated to North Korea-China friendship.

This marks the first time Kim has visited China without holding a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Xinhua, Kim stated regarding the background of his visit, "We intend to pay tribute to the Chinese soldiers who supported North Korea with their lives and blood at a critical historical juncture."

He went on to note that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Between North Korea and China, expressing gratitude for China's long-standing support and aid for North Korea's socialist endeavors.

The North's Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim emphasized the memorial hall serves as "a precious verification in blood of the invincible North Korea-China friendship" and highlighted "the will of our party, government, and people to forever and firmly inherit the invincible North Korea-China friendship forged in blood."

Kim laid a wreath at the memorial tower within the hall and presented a commemorative plaque featuring his own handwriting and a photograph of his grandfather, former leader Kim Il Sung.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference who greeted Kim, also remarked on this visit, stating that it "fully demonstrates the high value placed on the blood-sealed North Korea-China friendship."

Beyond Kim, Chinese President Xi Jinping—who previously made his first overseas trip of the year to North Korea in June for a two-day state visit—has also visited Korean War-related commemorative facilities in Pyongyang.

Accompanied by Kim, Xi visited the North Korea-China Friendship Tower, which honors Chinese soldiers killed in North Korea during the Korean War, laid a wreath, and toured the memorial hall.

Xi had also previously visited and laid wreaths at the Friendship Tower in 2008 when he served as vice president, and in 2019 during his first visit to North Korea after taking power.

Regarding one of the backgrounds for paying respects at the Friendship Tower in 2019, he stated, "It is to make clear the firm determination of North Korea and China to safeguard peace," adding, "We must steadfastly promote regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity."

North Korea and China agreed last June to jointly manage "Volunteer Army Martyr Commemoration Facilities," and after conducting renovation work on five Chinese military cemeteries in North Korea from April to October, held a completion ceremony on October 24 at the "Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs' Cemetery" in Sinpyeong County, North Hwanghae Province.

However, amid observations that closer alignment is strengthening between North Korea and Russia within trilateral North Korea-China-Russia relations as Pyongyang supports Russia and participates in the war in Ukraine, North Korea has also used the expression "alliance sealed in blood" regarding its relationship with Russia.

Marking the first anniversary of the "conclusion of the Kursk liberation operation" last April, Kim stated at the completion ceremony for the troop deployment monument held in Pyongyang, "We have engraved in this monument a new history of North Korea-Russia friendship written in blood, and a new history of justice won through blood."

The Korean Central News Agency also reported on a reception held in Pyongyang on October 15 marking the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between North Korea and Russia, stating that attendees "expressed the conviction that the North Korea-Russia alliance forged in blood will remain permanent and indestructible."

(Photo: KCNA, Yonhap News)