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North Korea's Kim reaffirms relations with China in letter with Xi Jinping: KCNA

Published: 10 Mar. 2026, 09:43

LIM JEONG-WON
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a dinner hosted by Xi in Beijing on Sept. 6, 2025, in this screengrab from the state-run Korean Central Television. [YONHAP]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his country's unwavering stance to advance ties with China in reply to a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping, the North's state media said Tuesday.

Kim sent the letter to Xi the previous day in response to a message congratulating him on his reelection as general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea at a party congress last month, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

"It is an unwavering stance of our party and the government to solidify and develop the traditional North Korea-China friendship in a way that meets the new demands of the times and the aims of the two countries' peoples," Kim was quoted as saying.

"I believe that cooperation between the North Korean and Chinese parties and the two countries will grow closer on their common path to advance the socialist cause," Kim also noted.

Kim also expressed "deepest gratitude" for the congratulatory message from Xi, stressing that the message was "a sign of support and encouragement for me and all members of the Workers' Party."

"Continuing to consolidate and develop the traditional DPRK-China friendship in line with the demands of the new era and the aspirations of the peoples of both countries is the unwavering position of our Party and the government of the republic," Kim said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Xi had previously sent Kim a congratulatory letter on Feb. 23 to commemorate Kim's reelection as leader of the regime, saying that North Korea and China are "socialist neighbors who help each other" and reiterating that "it is the unwavering policy of the Chinese party and government to maintain, consolidate, and develop China-North Korea relations."

BY LIM JEONG-WON, YONHAP [[email protected]]