[COVER STORY] Kim Jong-un's China trip reaffirms 'blood ties' as Beijing watches Moscow

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un journeyed to China's Dandong city, strategically timed to coincide with the anniversary of Chinese forces' entry into the Korean War of 1950-53. This visit aimed to reinforce the long-standing "blood ties" between the two nations, according to experts. The North Korean state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim attended the Memorial Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in Dandong the day prior.

State media consistently highlighted Kim's gesture of paying tribute to fallen Chinese soldiers, underscoring their shared history of fighting together and maintaining ties born from that blood. Professor Kang Dong-wan of Dong-A University explained that the emphasis on China's role in the war was intentional, occurring after a period during which the relationship between Beijing and Pyongyang had weakened in comparison to North Korea's increasing alliance with Moscow.

This included North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia. Kim's choice of destination for the visit, among other potential locations, appears to be a deliberate move to highlight these enduring connections between China and North Korea at a time when Moscow's growing influence has drawn Beijing's attention.