North Korea, Closely Aligned with China Amid US Stalemate... Kim Jong-un at Communist Party's 100th Anniversary Celebration

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea is strengthening its ties with China on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. On the 1st, Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, marking the 100th anniversary of the party's founding, stating that "the slanders of hostile forces are the death throes," thereby showcasing the North Korea-China solidarity amid the US-China conflict.

In the congratulatory message, General Secretary Kim emphasized, "Despite the complex and multifaceted international situation, the two countries (North Korea and China) firmly hold the belief in the legitimacy of the socialist and communist cause, boldly overcoming the difficulties and challenges they face with the power of combative friendship and blood ties, and are striving toward a brighter future."

North Korea and China appear to be strengthening their ties ahead of significant events this year, including the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party and the 60th anniversary of the North Korea-China Friendship Treaty (on the 11th). In May, Ri Ryong-nam, North Korean ambassador to China, and Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, met and emphasized their "blood alliance," and last month, the North Korean and Chinese ambassadors each published cross-contributed articles in the People's Daily and Rodong Sinmun, respectively.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said, "Given that human exchanges with China have been blocked due to COVID-19, General Secretary Kim's 'congratulatory message politics' was anticipated," adding, "It is judged that he intends to show the United States his willingness to take joint action by emphasizing the logic that 'a friend's enemy is an enemy.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.