North Korean Premier Embarks on Official Visit to China
June 25, Kathmandu – North Korean Premier Pak Tae-song is set to depart for China this Friday for a three-day visit to commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of the friendship treaty between the two nations. This trip signals ongoing improvements in the relationship between these traditional allies. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance Agreement, which remains Beijing’s sole formal defense treaty.
Pak will lead both party and government delegations during the visit. Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided details on Thursday. She described China and North Korea as traditionally good friends and neighbors, emphasizing that maintaining their relationship has long been a steadfast strategic policy of the Communist Party and government. Mao stressed the importance of strengthening and developing this bond, expressing Beijing’s readiness to work closely with Pyongyang.
According to Mao, China aims to enhance strategic communication and deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. She highlighted plans to continue fostering the development of the longstanding friendship and collaborative ties between China and North Korea. Pak also holds a position on the Politburo Presidium of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party. This visit comes just weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s historic state visit to Pyongyang.
Xi’s visit to North Korea last month was his first foreign trip of the year and the first in seven years to the country. Both sides hailed the visit as a significant agreement ushering in a new era of bilateral cooperation. The visit further solidified the relationship, during which Xi reaffirmed his commitment to protecting mutual sovereignty, security, and development, pledging unyielding dedication.
In response, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un praised the close relations with Beijing, describing the partnership as his country’s most important strategic mission. The two leaders toured a new campus of the Workers’ Party Central Cadres Training School, considered the supreme academy for officials, and paid floral tributes at the China-North Korea Friendship Tower, a monument honoring Chinese soldiers who fought during the Korean War.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited North Korea last October to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling party. This visit occurred a month after Kim’s trip to Beijing, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. These visits reflect a clear restoration of bilateral ties, which had cooled during the COVID-19 pandemic due to border closures.
Relations have experienced some strain recently as Pyongyang increased military cooperation with Moscow. North Korea has reportedly deployed troops to support Russia in the Ukraine conflict, receiving advanced military technology in return. Nevertheless, China remains the economic lifeline for North Korea, a fact confirmed by analysts. Bilateral trade between China and North Korea reached 2.25 billion yuan (approximately 330 million US dollars) in April, the highest level since the United Nations imposed comprehensive sanctions at the end of 2017.