Kim Jong-un's China trip reaffirms 'blood ties' as Beijing watches Moscow
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong, made days before the anniversary of Chinese troops entering the 1950-53 Korean War, was aimed at reaffirming the historic blood ties between the two countries at a moment when Pyongyang’s alignment with Moscow has drawn Beijing’s attention, experts said. North's state-run Rodong Sinmun on Sunday reported Kim's visit to…
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently traveled to the Chinese border city of Dandong, a move aimed at reinforcing the deep historical bonds between the two nations, according to experts. This visit occurred days before the anniversary of Chinese troops entering the Korean War, which began in 1950. The North Korean state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported that Kim visited the Memorial Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in Dandong the day before.
The media consistently highlighted Kim's act of paying tribute to fallen Chinese soldiers, emphasizing their shared history of fighting alongside North Korean forces and the preservation of ties cultivated through bloodshed.
Professor Kang Dong-wan, a North Korean studies expert at Dong-A University, explained that the emphasis on China's role in the war was strategic. This focus came after a period during which the relationship between Beijing and Pyongyang had weakened in favor of North Korea's growing partnership with Moscow. This included the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
Kim's choice of destination for his visit suggests that he was mindful of the current geopolitical landscape and sought to reaffirm the blood ties between China and North Korea at a critical juncture.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
