The leaders of North Korea and China have exchanged messages marking the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, expressing hopes for stronger ties between the two countries. The exchange comes as North Korea and Russia have been increasingly cooperating, while China has been keeping a distance. Experts say that the level of exchanges and commemorative programs between North Korea and China in the coming months will provide a clue to the exact status of their ties.
In his message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that his government will “steadily strive to consolidate and develop the friendly and cooperative relations” between the two countries, as quoted by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency. Xi, in his message to Kim, expressed China’s readiness to jointly promote “the stable and further advance of the socialist cause in the two countries”.
The relationship between North Korea and China has often been described as “as close as lips and teeth”. China is North Korea’s biggest trading partner and main aid provider, and has been suspected of avoiding fully implementing UN sanctions on North Korea and sending clandestine aid shipments to help its impoverished neighbour. However, many observers say that China is reluctant to form a three-way anti-West alliance with North Korea and Russia, preferring instead a stable regional security environment to tackle numerous economic challenges and maintain relationships with Europe and its Asian neighbours.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, (Image via Getty)
Meanwhile, North Korea and Russia have moved significantly closer to each other, with widespread suspicions that North Korea has supplied conventional weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a military parade in Moscow, where he praised North Korea’s contributions to the global fight against terrorism.
The ties between North Korea and Russia have been strengthened by a recent agreement, signed during a meeting in Pyongyang in June, which stipulates mutual military assistance if either country is attacked. North Korea is locked in confrontations with the US, South Korea, and their partners over its advancing nuclear program, and Mr. Kim has said he was forced to expand both nuclear and conventional capabilities to cope with US-led security threats.
On Sunday, North Korean state media reported that Kim oversaw a live artillery firing drill by cadets of a military academy. After watching the drill, Kim said that training programs at the military academy must focus on “guerrilla war tactics to wipe out the enemies through rapid mobile and surprise operations”. The exercise is seen as a demonstration of North Korea’s military capabilities and its determination to deter potential threats from the US and its allies.
The strengthening of ties between North Korea and China comes at a time when the world is facing numerous global challenges, including the ongoing pandemic, economic uncertainty, and regional conflicts. The relationship between the two countries is seen as a key factor in maintaining regional stability and preventing the spread of tensions to other parts of the world.
