North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his 'unwavering will' to improve relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Describing the recent summit in Pyongyang as a 'historic event', Kim sent a congratulatory message to Xi on the 105th founding anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
In a message announced by the state news agency KCNA on Wednesday, Kim said, 'Our party and government have an unwavering stance to steadily develop the North Korea-China friendly relations, which have long and historic roots and are based on socialism.'
Kim said, 'The recent Pyongyang summit was a historic opportunity to deepen the comradely friendship and trust between us,' and stated that he once again confirmed that the two leaders have 'unwavering will' to advance bilateral relations.
According to South Korea's official Yonhap news agency, Xi's visit to Pyongyang on June 8-9 was the Chinese leader's first trip to North Korea in about seven years.
Kim also emphasized in his message that North Korea-China relations are 'the common heritage of the two peoples.' It was reported that during the summit, the two leaders adopted a document that North Korean state media described as a 'comprehensive plan' to strengthen the 'strongest and strategic relations.'
According to Chinese state media, Xi pushed for closer cooperation with North Korea in diplomatic, law enforcement, and military fields during the visit.
Although North Korea has developed a very close relationship with Russia in recent years and sent thousands of soldiers to the war in Ukraine, China remains the country's largest economic partner. According to data from South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance, about 98% of North Korea's foreign trade in 2024 was conducted with China.
Ukraine and South Korea Discuss North Korean Prisoners of War
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun in Seoul on Tuesday. According to Yonhap, the two ministers discussed bilateral relations as well as the situation of North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine.
Yonhap reported that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in 2025 want to defect to South Korea if released.
The South Korean government stated that it considers North Korean soldiers as 'constitutional South Korean citizens' and that Seoul 'will accept prisoners who wish to come to South Korea.'
According to Yonhap, a senior South Korean Foreign Ministry official said that Seoul and Kiev have 'already reached a basic understanding' on prisoners of war, and it is hoped that these talks will be advanced during the Ukrainian minister's visit.
