SEOUL – North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in Pyongyang, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Saturday. This meeting underscores North Korea’s efforts to bolster its relationships with key allies amid increasing cooperation with Russia and rising tensions with South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting between Choe and Sun occurred on Friday and was characterized by a “comradely and friendly atmosphere.” The two diplomats discussed strengthening tactical cooperation and defending shared core interests, particularly significant as this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China. The talks follow Choe’s recent visit to Russia, where she met President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, signaling a deepening of bilateral ties.
North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, is intensifying its military collaboration with Russia while simultaneously escalating confrontations with South Korea, which it has declared an “invariable primary foe.” This strategic alignment with China and Russia is seen as a counterbalance to the strengthening security cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
Sun Weidong’s visit to Pyongyang is a reciprocal gesture following last month’s visit to China by North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho. The meeting, which also included Pak and Wang Yajun, the Chinese ambassador to Pyongyang, came a day after discussions between the vice foreign ministers of the two nations. The diplomats also deliberated on celebrating the ‘year of DPRK-China friendship’ and pledged to enhance friendly exchanges and practical cooperation.
The KCNA report further noted that the officials reaffirmed the importance of diplomatic cooperation in addressing various regional and international issues, including the situation in Northeast Asia. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea’s official name, continues to navigate complex international relationships amidst its strategic realignments.