Xi and Putin Reaffirm Ties with North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their close strategic ties with Pyongyang in congratulatory messages marking the 78th anniversary of North Korea’s founding, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday.

North Korea marks the founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 9 September, commemorating the establishment of the state in 1948.

In a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Xi said he was prepared to continue strengthening the strategic guidance of bilateral relations and work with Kim to advance the two countries’ development. He emphasized that strengthening and developing ties remained the “consistent and unwavering policy” of China’s ruling Communist Party and government.

In a separate message, Putin said he would continue close cooperation with Kim to further strengthen their countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership. He said stronger ties would contribute to regional security and a “more just, multipolar world order”.

Both messages were published on the front page of Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party. Kim also received congratulatory messages from leaders of several other countries, including Vietnam, Belarus, Sweden and Switzerland.

(Reuters, max)