Longest-Serving Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Returns... Will North Korea Ease Border Closure?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] After North Korea thoroughly sealed its borders following COVID-19, Li Jinjun, the Chinese Ambassador to North Korea who was unable to return home after his term ended, is returning to his home country. Attention is focused on whether North Korea will ease border restrictions and revitalize North Korea-China trade with the replacement of the Chinese Ambassador to North Korea.

On the 23rd, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "Comrade Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, met with Li Jinjun, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to our country, who paid a farewell visit at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on the 22nd."

Chairman Choe conveyed greetings from Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party. The agency reported that in his greeting, General Secretary Kim said, "He is very pleased that the socialist-centered Korea-China friendship has entered a new period of vitality under the leadership of the heads of the two parties today," and wished that China would achieve greater accomplishments under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Ambassador Li said, "I cannot help but be moved by the words of General Secretary Kim Jong-un," and asked Chairman Choe to convey his gratitude to the General Secretary for his deep concern and care for his work and life during his term.

Li also evaluated that "under the leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong-un, the Korean people are achieving progress in all fields of socialist construction through self-reliance and hard struggle," and said, "I sincerely congratulate you on the achievements made in the first year of implementing the decisions of the 8th Party Congress."

He added, "Under the direct leadership of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, we will continue to strive to further develop the Korea-China friendship relations that have entered a new era."

On the same day, Chairman Choe awarded Ambassador Li the First Class Order of Friendship of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the North Korean State Affairs Commission held a banquet for Ambassador Li in the evening.

Ambassador Li, who took office in March 2015 and served in North Korea for 6 years and 9 months, is the longest-serving Chinese Ambassador to North Korea. Although his successor was appointed in February, the replacement did not take place due to North Korea's COVID-19 border lockdown.

However, with Ambassador Li's return, the possibility of resuming the previously halted North Korea-China trade has increased. On the 2nd, the U.S.-based North Korea specialist media '38 North' suggested the possibility of resuming North Korea-China trade, reporting that construction activities at the Uiju Airport in North Korea are actively underway.

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