N. Korea's vice defense minister attends Chinese defense forum

North Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il has journeyed to Beijing to participate in China's annual defense forum, according to Pyongyang's state media. The delegation, headed by Kim, departed from Pyongyang International Airport the day prior to the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which is set to run from Tuesday to Thursday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that officials from North Korea's defense ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang bid them farewell. Initiated in 2006 by the China Association for Military Science, the forum is frequently referred to as China's counterpart to Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue. This year's event is centered around the theme "Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together."

North Korea's presence at the forum was first observed in 2018, led by Vice Minister of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces Kim Hyong-ryong. In the subsequent two editions, military attaches from the North Korean Embassy in China opted to attend due to deteriorating bilateral relations.