Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties with North Korea in messages to leader Kim Jong-un marking the country's 78th founding anniversary, as Pyongyang observed the occasion Wednesday.
North Korea marks Sept. 9 as the anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948 under Kim's grandfather and state founder Kim Il-sung.
In his message, Xi praised North Korea's progress in recent years, saying the country has achieved a series of successes in economic and social development under Kim's leadership, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Xi stressed that maintaining and advancing relations between Beijing and Pyongyang remains a consistent policy of the Chinese leadership and government.
He also referred to his visit to Pyongyang in June, saying the trip had ushered in a new phase in bilateral relations. Xi expressed his willingness to work with Kim to deepen strategic coordination between the two countries and their ruling parties.
“I am willing to strive, together with you, Comrade General Secretary,” Xi said, pledging to “steadily intensify the strategic guidance over the relations between the two parties and two countries” and accelerate the development of their respective party and state affairs.
Xi added that such efforts would contribute to “regional and global peace and stability, development and prosperity.”
Putin similarly praised North Korea's achievements in economic and social affairs as well as what he described as the country's strengthened standing on the international stage.
In a message sent Tuesday, the Russian president said relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have long been built on friendship, good-neighborly ties and mutual assistance, according to KCNA.
Putin pledged to further strengthen the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, saying closer cooperation serves their shared interests and would contribute to regional security and the establishment of what he described as a more just and multipolar world order.
KCNA also reported that Kim received congratulatory messages from the leaders of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Sweden, Belarus, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Singapore and Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, Kim did not visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of his late grandfather Kim Il-sung and father Kim Jong-il are enshrined, to mark this year's anniversary.
Kim has visited the mausoleum on the country's founding anniversary only three times since taking power — in 2012, 2018 and 2021 — and has skipped the commemorative visit every year since 2022.
Senior officials of the ruling Workers' Party and the government, members of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly and military commanders visited the Kumsusan Palace on Tuesday, a day before the anniversary, KCNA reported.
Kim was absent from the visit but sent a floral basket to be placed before the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
