North Korea’s premier heads to China for defence treaty anniversary as allies extend thaw

North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song is undertaking a three-day visit to China, commencing Friday, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. This treaty represents Beijing's sole formal defense pact and the visit underscores a period of thawing relations between the two long-standing allies. Pak leads a government and party delegation for the occasion. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated on Thursday that China views North Korea as a traditional friendly neighbor. She emphasized that upholding and developing bilateral relations remains a core strategic policy for China. Beijing, Mao added, is prepared to enhance strategic communication and deepen exchanges and cooperation to continuously advance the traditional friendship and cooperative relationship between the two nations. This visit follows Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to North Korea last month, his first abroad this year and first to the DPRK in seven years, which solidified what both sides termed a 'critical consensus' for a new era of bilateral cooperation.

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China and North Korea are traditional friendly neighbouring countries. Upholding, consolidating and developing China-North Korea relations has always been a steadfast strategic policy of the Communist Party and government.