Weekday North Korean Embassy Holds 10th Anniversary Memorial for Kim Jong-il's Death... High-Level Chinese Officials Attend

North Korea held a virtue presentation meeting for the working class and trade union members at the Central Workers' Hall on the 15th to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il (December 17), according to the Korean Central News Agency on the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The North Korean Embassy in China hosted a memorial event on the afternoon of the 16th, a day before the 10th anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea (December 17, 2011).

According to sources in Beijing, the event, presided over by North Korean Ambassador Ri Yong-nam, was attended by Wang Chen, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China.

The North Korean Embassy in China did not hold a separate event last year for the 9th anniversary due to the COVID-19 situation.

China's decision to send an official at the Vice Chairman level of the NPC Standing Committee to an event hosted by the North Korean ambassador is interpreted as an effort to strengthen friendly relations between North Korea and China.

North Korea is in urgent need of China's assistance due to border closures caused by COVID-19 and sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), while China also needs to strengthen ties with its allies amid increasing US offensives.

From China's perspective, it also appears to be an intention to externally demonstrate its influence over North Korea in the Korean Peninsula issue.

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