North Korea’s Kim vows to develop cooperation with China to ‘new high’

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese Communist Party politburo member Li Hongzhong pose as they meet in Pyongyang, North Korea, July 28, 2023, in this image released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with the Chinese delegation who visited Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War and vowed to develop the two countries’ relations to a “new high”, the North’s state media said on Saturday.

Kim hosted a reception for the Chinese officials led by Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong on Friday. The Chinese delegation was the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Reaffirmed at the talk was the stand of the parties and governments of the two countries to cope with the complicated international situation on their own initiative and steadily develop the friendship and comradely cooperation onto a new high stage,” the North’s KCNA news agency said.

The meeting took place after Chinese and Russian officials stood shoulder to shoulder with Kim on Thursday as they reviewed his newest nuclear-capable missiles and attack drones at a military parade in the capital.

READ: Russian, Chinese officials join Kim Jong Un at North Korea military parade