(Beijing = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Hyun-jung = North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to China on the 24th for the first time in over a year and met with Wang Huning, chairman of the National People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), fourth in the Chinese power hierarchy, and confirmed his intention to expand economic cooperation between North Korea and China.
China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that on this day, President Wang welcomed Chairman Kim, who visited Dandong, at the Anti-American Assistance Memorial Square and carried out his schedule.
Chairman Kim indirectly explained that the purpose of his visit to Dandong was to commemorate the anniversary of anti-American assistance (helping North Korea against the United States) on the 25th.
He said, "I visited Dandong this time to commemorate the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army who supported North Korea with their lives and blood during an important historical period, and to express North Korea's sincere gratitude and eternal respect for the heroes who resisted the United States and aided Korea."
He pointed out that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the North Korea-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, and emphasized, "We are grateful to China for its long-time support and assistance in North Korea's socialist work, and the prospects for cooperation between the two sides are very broad."
Chairman Kim's visit to China is the sixth in one year and one month since he visited Beijing in September last year to attend the event commemorating the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the Anti-Japanese War (Victory Day).
Unless he had a private meeting with President Xi during this visit, this is the first time Chairman Kim has visited China and returned without meeting President Xi.
Initially, some predicted that a summit could take place after Chairman Kim was received by President Xi Jinping, but given that there was not enough opportunity and that President Xi is ahead of the 5th plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (20th Plenary Session), a major political event next week, the possibility of a summit meeting gained weight.
Chairman Kim emphasized, "I am amazed that under the leadership of Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping, the Chinese people have achieved development achievements that the world is paying attention to and have acquired the important international status they deserve. I hope to continue our historical friendship with China and expand practical cooperation to bring tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries."
Regarding President Xi's visit to North Korea last June, he added, "It showed a high level of importance to North Korea-China relations and became a milestone in the relationship between the two countries."
According to a video broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV)'s flagship news program 'Xinyuan Lianbo', the meeting was attended by North Korea's Workers' Party Director Kim Yo-jong, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hee, and Workers' Party Secretary Cho Yong-won, while on the Chinese side, Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Liu Haixing, Director of the External Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, attended the meeting.
President Wang commented on Chairman Kim's visit, saying, "It has important meaning as it continues the traditional friendship between China and North Korea and solidifies friendly public sentiment, deepens political mutual trust, and jointly promotes cooperative development."
He also said, "We hope to use the opening of the China-North Korea New Yalu River Bridge as an opportunity to expand human traffic and economic and trade cooperation and bring better benefits to the people of both countries."
According to Xinhua News Agency, Chairman Kim visited the Monument to Resist the US and Aid with President Wang and laid a wreath while the national anthems of both countries were played, and even stopped for a moment in front of the wreath to organize the ribbons.
Xinhua News Agency reported that the wreath's ribbon decoration had the phrase "We will forever remember the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army" written in Korean.
The media said, "All attendees prayed in silence for the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, and the atmosphere at the scene was solemn and solemn," adding that Chairman Kim entered the memorial hall, viewed relics and materials related to the Battle of the Volunteer Army, and presented a historical photo with a handwritten inscription to the memorial hall.
Xinhua News Agency then explained that Chairman Kim visited an automobile factory in Dandong with President Wang, inspected the production workshop, and then left Dandong while being seen off by President Wang at the New Yalu River Bridge.
Given that the New Yalu River Bridge is a land route connecting Dandong and Sinuiju, North Korea, it is believed that Chairman Kim returned home without any additional schedule for his visit to China.
As Chairman Kim personally visited an automobile manufacturing plant in Dandong and expressed his willingness to cooperate and transfer technology, some say he would have focused on discussing and coordinating the details of economic cooperation with the supreme leadership during this visit.
Meanwhile, Xinhua News Agency did not mention State Council Premier Li Qiang, the second-highest ranking Chinese power official, who South Korean government sources previously reported had met with Chairman Kim.
