Flower deposit
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un lays a wreath at the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) Martyrs’ Cemetery in Hoechang County, South Pyongan Province on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, on the occasion the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War (1950-1953), the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the next day. (Use in South Korea only and redistribution prohibited)
SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) — North Korea warmly welcomed the Chinese delegation that arrived in Pyongyang to participate in the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War (1950-1953) armistice, reported this North Korean Central Radio (KCBS) on Thursday.
The Chinese delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, landed in the North Korean capital yesterday to attend the commemorations of “victory in the Fatherland Liberation War”, according to the North Korean radio.
The Korean War, which was sparked by a North Korean invasion, ended with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953. North Korea celebrates the day of the signing of the armistice as the day of the Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War. Pyongyang has invited Chinese and Russian officials for the commemorations this year, the first foreign guests to visit the reclusive country since Pyongyang closed its borders amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in early 2020.
At the welcome banquet at Mansudae Palace, Kim Song-nam, director of the international department of the Northern Workers’ Party Central Committee, paid tribute to Chinese dead soldiers and veterans who fought alongside the North. “We will never forget the heroic achievements and contributions of the fighters who wrote bright pages in the history of victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) and bilateral friendly relations,” Kim said. .
In response, Li said his country has “willingness” to foster sound and stable development of China-North Korea relations and contribute to promoting peace and stability in the region. The radio said the country also held a banquet in honor of the Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu which arrived in the north on Tuesday. The visit came amid rumors that North Korea had supplied weapons to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. The North denied these allegations raised by the United States.
In a speech, North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam expressed “full support” for Russia’s war against Ukraine, promising to strengthen cooperation with Moscow to confront Washington. “We fully support the Russian army and the people’s fight for justice and our army reaffirms the position that we will strengthen cooperation and solidarity with Russia in the wake of the anti-imperialist fight,” he noted. .
The two defense chiefs met the day before, the question of imports by Moscow of North Korean weapons having been on the agenda. Observers say the North would seek to use its celebrations to show off its close ties with China and Russia in the face of increased defense cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan in the face of provocations. North Koreans.
Russian military delegation in Pyongyang
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) shakes hands with North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam after arriving in Pyongyang on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the following day reported the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). A Russian military delegation, led by the former, arrived in the North to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War (1950-1953). (Use in South Korea only and redistribution prohibited)
(FIN)
2023-07-27 18:49:41
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