A senior North Korean official called on China to build stronger “militant unity” between both countries during a meeting in Pyongyang on Wednesday. This statement came as one of China’s top politicians arrived in North Korea for a historic three-day visit to celebrate 65 years of friendship treaty.
Wang Huning, China’s fourth-highest-ranked official, led a Communist Party and government delegation to Pyongyang from July 15 to 17 on what Xinhua called an “official goodwill visit. It was the first time a head of China’s top political advisory body had made such a visit to North Korea in 44 years. Wang serves as chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and also a member of Politburo Standing Committee.
Jo Yong Won, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, received Wang and hosted the talks. Jo told Wang that the world’s fast-changing situation has made it more important than ever for both countries to stand together. Jo said both nations need to further strengthen the militant unity between them to deal with a changing global situation.
Wang said the friendship treaty gave China and North Korea a strong legal base for their long-standing friendship, which he said was built through shared sacrifices. He also said he came to work on the plans that President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed on during their recent meeting.
This visit came as China and North Korea increased high level meetings. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pyongyang in April. Last month, President Xi Jinping traveled to North Korea for the first time in seven years and met with Kim Jong Un. Earlier this month, North Korean Premier, Pak Thae-song visited Beijing from July 10 to 12, where he met Xi and other senior Chinese leaders during events marking the 65th anniversary of the friendship treaty.
The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, signed on July 11, 1961, is China’s only active mutual defense pact. It binds China to defend North Korea if the country faces any type of military attack.
In recent years, North Korea has strengthened its ties with Russia. Both countries signed a strategic defense agreement that sent thousands of North Korean soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Despite this, China remains North Korea’s largest economic partner. Analysts say China wants to improve its ties with North Korea to ensure it does not lose its central role in North Korea’s affairs.
Both sides also discussed plans to increase cooperation in business, culture, and social welfare. Both countries said they are ready to carry out the decisions made by Xi and Kim at last month’s summit.
Earlier this month in Beijing, President Xi Jinping urged Chinese and North Korean leaders to stay united during a time of global uncertainty and quickly carry out the agreements they had made. Wang Huning brought the same message during his visit to Pyongyang.
The series of high level meetings shows that both countries want to strengthen their ties and deepen their partnership at a time of growing security tensions in the region.
