N. Korea, China vow to deepen bilateral ties

▲ This image captured from the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang shows Kang Yun-sok (L), vice chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly standing committee, shaking hands with Wang Yajun, China's ambassador to North Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

N Korea-China-ties

N. Korea, China vow to deepen bilateral ties

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- Senior officials from North Korea and China have held a meeting and pledged to deepen bilateral ties, according to the North's state media Friday.

China's ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, held the meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang the previous day to mark the 76th anniversary of China's founding on Oct. 1, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

"Traditional friendship (between China and North Korea) is endlessly engraving new chapters," the KCNA quoted Wang as saying during the banquet, which was attended by North Korean party and government officials, including Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho.

"China's side is open to thoroughly implementing the important understanding reached between the two countries' leaders … and achieving bigger-than-ever development in (China-North Korea) relations," Wang also noted.

Kang Yun-sok, vice chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly standing committee, also delivered remarks, pledging to "work with Chinese comrades" to strengthen bilateral ties.

Kang added that the friendship between the two countries is "evolving in accordance with the demands of the new era."

The KCNA said participants toasted to "the prosperity" of China and the "endless development" of China-North Korea friendship.

The reception came weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing in early September on the sidelines of a Chinese military parade, bringing their ties, strained by Pyongyang's military alignment with Russia, back on track.

The previous day, China and North Korea announced that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui will visit China from Saturday to next Tuesday at the invitation of Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

North Korea is currently preparing a large-scale military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the ruling party's founding on Oct. 10, to which the country is expected to invite a high-level Chinese official.

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