North Korea and China Close Ranks on the 10th Anniversary of Kim Jong-il's Death

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 10th anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, China expressed its commitment to "strengthening North Korea-China friendship." The two countries appear to be showcasing their close relationship on this occasion.

On the 17th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Wang Chen, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, attended the 10th anniversary event held at the North Korean Embassy in China the previous day, stating, "We express China's firm position to thoroughly implement the joint understanding achieved by the top leaders of the two parties and to promote the continuous strengthening and development of China-North Korea friendship."

Vice Chairman Wang asked Ri Ryong-nam, North Korea's ambassador to China, to convey Chinese President Xi Jinping's "warm greetings and excellent wishes" to Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

China sending a high-ranking official at the vice chairman level of the Standing Committee to a North Korean-hosted memorial event can also be interpreted as a message to the West demonstrating the strong North Korea-China relationship. Previously, President Xi and General Secretary Kim exchanged letters on the 60th anniversary of the North Korea-China Friendship Treaty and the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, and also held a banquet in Beijing to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the North Korean regime.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere of mourning is reaching its peak inside North Korea as well. The Rodong Sinmun published a full-page editorial on its front page titled "The Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong-il is the Eternal Leader of Our Party and Revolution and the Sun of Juche," reporting on the local atmosphere: "The people's deep longing and boundless reverence for the great leader Comrade Kim Jong-il flow endlessly like a great river to the highest sacred place of Juche, the Kumsusan Sun Palace." The newspaper also emphasized, "The resolute will of the respected General Secretary Comrade to unconditionally carry out the General's instructions without any concession is ironclad."

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