North Korea’s Kim vows to deepen ties with China in message to Xi

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his commitment to deepening relations with China, characterizing recent summit discussions with President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang as a "historic occasion."

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It is the steadfast stand of our Party and government to steadily develop the DPRK-China friendly relations with long and historical roots and with socialism as their core.

In a congratulatory message to Xi marking the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, Kim stated that it is Pyongyang's "steadfast stand" to continuously develop the "DPRK-China friendly relations with long and historical roots and with socialism as their core." He further described the recent summit as a pivotal moment for enhancing comradely friendship and mutual trust, noting that both leaders had confirmed their "unshakable will" to advance traditional bilateral ties.

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The recent Pyongyang summit was a historic occasion of deepening the comradely friendship and trust between us.

Kim expressed his readiness to collaborate with Xi to further develop North Korea-China "friendly and cooperative relations," referring to them as the "common wealth of the peoples of the two countries." This exchange comes shortly after Xi's significant visit to Pyongyang, during which the leaders committed to strengthening various aspects of their relationship, including Pyongyang's increasingly close military cooperation with Russia.

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The two leaders had reaffirmed their unshakable will to advance traditional bilateral ties.

During the summit, North Korean state media reported that Kim and Xi adopted a "far-reaching blueprint" for bilateral relations, aiming to elevate their traditional friendship into "the most powerful and strategic relations." Chinese state media indicated that Xi also advocated for closer collaboration in diplomacy, law enforcement, and military affairs. China remains North Korea's primary economic partner, accounting for approximately 98% of its foreign trade in 2024, according to South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance.

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The message comes weeks after Xi made a rare visit to Pyongyang, where the two leaders pledged to strengthen ties such as Pyongyang’s increasingly close military relationship with Russia.