Source: Shangguan News
According to Xinhua News Agency on August 28, at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the State Xi Jinping, the Secretary-General of the Korean Labour Party and President of the State Kim Jong Un will be present in China for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war against Japan and the world anti-fascist war.
This news has aroused widespread concern. According to the Global Times, Kim Jong-un last visited China in 2019. This visit to China to attend the event is the first time that Kim Jong-un has been with leaders of many countries since he became the leader of North Korea.
"Warm welcome"
China Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei said at a press conference on the 28th that China and North Korea are traditional friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. "We warmly welcome General Secretary Kim Jong-un to come to China to attend the commemorative activities."
Hong Lei pointed out that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the China People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Korean motherland.
In the difficult and decisive period of the war, the people of the two countries supported each other to jointly combat Japanese aggression and made important contributions to the victory of the world war against fascism and the cause of human justice.
China is willing to continue to work hand in hand with the DPRK on the road of strengthening exchanges and cooperation and promoting socialist construction, work closely together in the cause of promoting regional peace and stability and safeguarding international fairness and justice, and continue to write a new chapter in the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK.
The Central Communications Agency of the DPRK and the Central Committee of the DPRK Labour Party organ newspaper Labor News on the 28th that Kim Jong Un would be invited to China to attend relevant commemorative events, but did not disclose the specific timetable.
“Frequently”
Kim Jong Un's last visit to China was in January 2019, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-DPRK relations. The two leaders exchanged in-depth views on China-DPRK relations and issues of common concern in an atmosphere of affectionate friendship, and reached an important consensus. At that time, the DPRK-Chinese news agency gave detailed reports on the process of the visit and noted that this was another major event in the history of China-DPRK friendship and solidarity.
In June of the same year, Xi Jinping was invited to make a state visit to North Korea.According to Xinhua news agency reports, this is the first visit to the DPRK since General Secretary Xi Jinping served as the highest leader of the party and the country, and has a major significance for the development of China-Korea relations in the new era.
Before that, Kim Jong-un had visited China three times in March, May and June 2018. During his meeting with Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping used to describe the close exchanges maintained by generations of leaders of China and North Korea as "visiting relatives." He also stressed that the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation, and point out the path for the long-term, healthy and stable development of China-North Korea relations.
In October 2024, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un congratulated each other and warmly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries.
First time together
Since serving as North Korean leader in late 2011, in addition to visiting China, Kim also visited Russia, Singapore, Vietnam and other countries, and held bilateral meetings with leaders of Russia, the United States, South Korea and other countries.
The Global Times quoted relevant reports as saying that the visit to China to attend the commemorative event was the first time Kim Jong-un made his debut with leaders of several countries.
Kim Yo-jong, vice-minister of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, mentioned "regional diplomacy with our country as the center" when attending a consultation meeting of the main directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 19th of this month, KCNA previously reported. Some commentators said that this seemed to herald the arrival of a special diplomatic moment.
South Korean scholars pointed out that North Korea's highest leader's participation in multilateral activities helps to consolidate North Korea's international position, while attempting to open up diplomatic space under the framework of the "Global South", marking an important moment in North Korea's diplomacy.
At the same time, according to the Chinese side, at the invitation of the Chinese government, some national speakers, vice premiers, high-level representatives, heads of international organizations and former dignitaries will attend the commemorative activities of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, including the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly Yu Won-sik.
Kang Hoon Sik, head of the Office of the President of South Korea, said on the 28th that South Korea had been informed in advance of Kim Jong-un's plans to visit China through relevant departments. An official from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that he expects China-North Korea relations to develop in a direction that will help denuclearization, peace and stability on the peninsula, and channels for dialogue and cooperation between South Korea and North Korea have always been open.
With Kim Jong-un confirmed his attendance, this will be the first time that senior officials from South Korea and North Korea have the opportunity to "sit in the same frame" on an international occasion.
The Global Times quoted South Korean media as saying that there were voices in South Korea that asked Lee Jae-ming to "attend in person" and that whether Kim Jong-un and Yu Won-sik could meet in China has also attracted attention. The Speaker's Office of the South Korean National Assembly has decided to inspect preparations and response plans.
According to a South Korean source, Yu Yuanzhi and Kim Jong-un had a friendship of drinking together. If they met in China, "they would naturally say hello". When the ROK and the DPRK held a summit meeting in April 2018, Yu Yuanzhi attended the welcome dinner as a representative of the ruling party and had face-to-face contact with Kim Jong-un.
However, there are also views that since North Korea has clearly defined South Korea as a "hostile country" through constitutional amendment and cut off communication channels with South Korea, it is estimated that North Korea will not take the initiative to contact South Korea.
Ten years ago, during China's 93 military parade, North Korea sent senior official Cui Longhai to attend the event, while South Korea was attended by then President park geun-hye. But the two never met.
At present, the details of Kim Jong-un's attendance in China have not been announced. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in response to relevant questions on the 28th that China will release information on the specific situation in due course, so we can keep an eye on it.
Related reports:
Which foreign guests will come? How are the preparations for the military parade? The latest progress of preparations for the 1993 commemoration is here