"Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Appointed After Over 2 Years"...Will North Korea-China Cooperation Strengthen?

Behind Chairman Kim Jong-un are his daughter Kim Ju-ae, Jo Yong-won, Secretary of the Party Central Committee Organization, Ri Il-hwan, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

It has been reported that the Chinese ambassador to North Korea has taken office after more than two years since his appointment.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that the newly appointed Chinese ambassador to North Korea, who was appointed in February two years ago but had not been able to assume his post due to COVID-19, took office on the 27th.

According to NHK, Ambassador Wang Yajun crossed a bridge from Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, to Sinuiju, North Korea, on that day.

Ambassador Wang was appointed in February 2021 as the successor to former ambassador Li Jinjun after serving as the deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party, which is responsible for party-to-party diplomacy. However, his assumption of the post was delayed as North Korea closed its borders citing COVID-19 prevention measures.

NHK explained, citing sources familiar with North Korea-China relations, that the Chinese side requested North Korea to allow Ambassador Wang to assume his post early.

It is reported that this is the first time North Korea has accepted a foreign diplomat since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

With Ambassador Wang taking office, there is a possibility that people-to-people exchanges between North Korea and China will resume. Attention is focused on whether cooperation between North Korea and China will strengthen further amid the intensifying confrontation between the U.S.-South Korea-Japan bloc and the North Korea-China-Russia bloc due to U.S.-China tensions.

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