JABAR EKSPRES – North Korea extended a “warm welcome” to a Chinese delegation arriving in Pyongyang this week to attend the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, according to state media on Thursday (7/27).
A party-government delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, arrived in the North’s capital on Wednesday to attend this week’s Victory Day celebrations, according to the North’s state-owned Korean Central Broadcasting Station.
The Korean War, which began with the invasion of the North, ended with the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953.
The North celebrates the date of the armistice signing as Victory Day of what it calls the Great War of Liberation of the Fatherland.
North Korea invited Chinese and Russian officials to its celebrations this year, marking its first foreign guests since Pyongyang’s self-imposed border closures due to COVID-19 in early 2020.
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In his speech at the welcome banquet on Wednesday, Kim Sung-nam, Director of the International Department of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, expressed “sincere respect” to Chinese soldiers and veterans who died while helping the North during the war.
“We will never forget their heroic services and achievements, which have made glorious records in the history of the Great War of Liberation of the Fatherland and friendly bilateral relations,” Kim said.
In response, Li said his country is “willing” to spur the development of China-Korut relations, and contribute to supporting peace and stability in the region.
The radio network said the North also held a separate party for a Russian delegation, led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, which arrived in the North on Tuesday.
The visit comes amid speculation that North Korea provided weapons to Russia for use in Moscow’s war with Ukraine. North Korea has denied the allegations made by the United States (US).
