North Korea and China Emphasize 'Fraternal and Combative Friendship'... Closer Ties Expected to Strengthen in Second Half

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Xi Jinping, President of China, exchanged letters to mark the 60th anniversary of the North Korea-China Friendship Treaty, emphasizing the friendship between the two countries. Considering North Korea's food shortage, the U.S.-China conflict, and the stalemate in North Korea-U.S. talks, experts point out that the close ties between North Korea and China are expected to strengthen further.

According to the letters exchanged between General Secretary Kim and President Xi, released by the Korean Central News Agency on the 11th, President Xi emphasized "brotherly and traditional friendship," suggesting that the two countries share a common understanding amid rapidly changing global circumstances. General Secretary Kim mentioned "comradely trust and fighting friendship," indicating a joint response to "the challenges and disruptive acts of hostile forces."

The exchange of letters between the two leaders commemorates the 60th anniversary of the North Korea-China Friendship Treaty. The treaty, which includes provisions for "automatic military intervention," was signed on July 11, 1961, between Chairman Kim Il-sung and Premier Zhou Enlai.

In his letter, President Xi stated, "Over the past 60 years, both sides of the China-North Korea border have firmly supported each other, joined hands, stood shoulder to shoulder, and fought together in accordance with the spirit of the treaty, strengthening the brotherly and traditional friendship between our two parties and two countries." He emphasized the achievement of a common understanding between the two countries amid "unprecedented global changes not seen in a hundred years."

General Secretary Kim also highlighted the "unprecedentedly complex and multifaceted international situation in recent years," stating that "the comradely trust and fighting friendship between North Korea and China are growing deeper day by day." He praised the North Korea-China Friendship Treaty as "safeguarding and promoting the socialist cause of the two countries amid increasingly vicious challenges and disruptive acts by hostile forces," and stressed that the party's position is to "continuously strengthen and develop the North Korea-China friendship in accordance with the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries."

The two countries also exchanged verbal letters in March, sharing similar content. Notably, President Xi's mention of "global great changes" and "common understanding between the two countries," along with General Secretary Kim's references to the "complex and multifaceted international situation" and "challenges from hostile forces," suggest that U.S. pressure on China and the U.S.-China confrontation are intensifying, leading to closer North Korea-China ties.

In particular, President Xi's statement that he is "willing to bring greater happiness to the two countries and their peoples" can be interpreted as expressing China's willingness to support North Korea amid its recent food shortages. The Korea Institute for National Security Strategy stated at a press briefing on the 9th that "once the quarantine warehouses being constructed in the border area are completed, trade is expected to resume," forecasting the resumption of North Korea-China trade, which had been suspended due to COVID-19. According to recent projections by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), North Korea's grain production this year is about 5.6 million tons, which is at the average level, but it will need to import about 1.1 million tons of grain from outside to avoid a food shortage crisis.

The U.S.-China conflict is also expected to act as a factor deepening North Korea-China closeness. The institute further predicted, "North Korea will likely leverage the U.S.-China conflict to strengthen its ties with China as a means to increase leverage against the U.S.," and warned that "North Korea's alignment with China may reduce the possibility of resuming inter-Korean relations."

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