On Monday, Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, is expected to focus his diplomatic efforts on strengthening North Korea-China relations during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This move signals a pivot back to China after solidifying ties with Russia.
According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, Kim stated during the summit held at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse in Pyongyang that he will make the development of North Korea-China relations the country’s most significant strategic priority and will do his utmost to make it a model for international relations.
This statement indicates that North Korea plans to prioritize the advancement of its relationship with China in its foreign policy following this summit. Kim further expressed his intention to contribute to regional and global peace and prosperity alongside China, signaling a strong commitment to collaborate with China in diplomacy toward the U.S., Northeast Asia, and the Korean Peninsula.
Xi also remarked that the Asian region is a sanctuary for countries such as North Korea and China, suggesting that China will play a strong ally role for nations cooperating with it, indicating its desire to support North Korea.
Additionally, Xi proposed four points for the advancement of North Korea-China relations: building mutual trust, enhancing practical cooperation, strengthening people-to-people communication, and solidifying strategic cooperation.
In response to these proposals, Kim stated that each department on the North Korean side will work closely with the Chinese side to fully implement these initiatives and promote extensive exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economic trade, infrastructure, science and technology, education, and culture, achieving new developments and moving forward on the path of modernization together with the Chinese people.
Kim also praised Xi for choosing North Korea as his first overseas destination this year, saying that this visit clearly demonstrates how solid and unbreakable the North Korea-China relationship is, which has always stood on the historically correct side despite enduring long trials.
He emphasized that North Korea will steadfastly adhere to the One China principle and firmly support China’s policies and positions on core interests, expressing strong backing for China’s stance on the Taiwan issue.
Kim continued that strengthening and developing the friendship between North Korea and China in this new era is the choice of the people and a necessity of the times; it is an unwavering strategic choice and firm strategic will of the North Korean side.
Kim’s mention of strategic priority and subsequent references to strategic choice and strategic will suggest that the two countries will reach an agreement to strengthen their strategic relationship during this summit.
Earlier, Xi also stated in an article for the Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, that North Korea and China should enhance strategic communication and cooperation in line with the trends of the times and jointly uphold an international order based on international law and centered around the United Nations (UN).
The article repeatedly used expressions highlighting the strategic relationship between the two sides, such as high-level strategic guidance, strategic cooperation, and strategic communication.
The multiple references to strategy made by Kim and Xi on this day indicate that North Korea and China have agreed to comprehensively restore their relationship, which had become relatively distant following their closer ties with Russia, and to elevate their mutual relationship to an even stronger level as strategic partners.