North Korean Leader Reaffirms Historic Friendship With China
Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed North Korea's commitment to its historic friendship with China, pledging to build on decades of close ties between the two countries. The announcement came in a state media report on Sunday, which detailed Kim's unannounced visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong a day earlier.
During the visit, Kim met Wang Huning, a senior Chinese leader, and emphasized the importance of carrying forward the long-established relationship between Pyongyang and Beijing. Senior officials from North Korea's ruling Workers' Party and government joined him on the trip.
The delegation included Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong, and party leader Jo Yong Won. On the Chinese side, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other senior officials took part in the proceedings.
The journey marks Kim's first known visit to China since September 2025, when he went to Beijing for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and met Xi Jinping. It is also his sixth trip to China since he came to power in 2011.
Kim laid a tribute at a memorial to Chinese troops who fought in the 1950 to 1953 Korean War. The visit coincides with China's observance of the 76th anniversary of its participation in that conflict.
Kim said his country would always remember the Chinese people who contributed to the North Korean revolution, many of whom gave their lives. He reiterated a pledge to keep advancing the friendship that has been forged through shared sacrifice.
Kim joined a banquet hosted by Wang Huning at the direction of Xi Jinping and visited a bus factory in Dandong. Wang Huning conveyed Xi's best wishes and said the trip was significant for preserving and expanding the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
At the end of his one-day visit, Kim returned to North Korea via the New Amnok River Bridge, also known as the New Yalu River Bridge. The bridge connects Sinuiju on the North Korean side with Dandong in China. Although construction finished in 2014, the bridge's opening was delayed for years and was only recently made operational.