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Xi’s latest message to North Korea’s Kim hints at cooling ties
September 9, 2024
Article Body Text<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to strengthen “strategic communication” with North Korea in a message to the North’s leader Kim Jong Un on the anniversary of the regime’s founding, the North’s state media reported.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But Xi, in his first message to Kim in eight months, appeared slightly less effusive in his tone on the friendship between China and North Korea than he did last year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We will deepen strategic communication and strengthen cooperation with the North in a bid to further consolidate and develop the friendly ties between the two,” said Xi, as cited by the Korean Central News Agency, adding that China would continue to develop traditional relations with North Korea from a strategic and long-term perspective.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While North Korea and Russia have grown closer since the war in Ukraine, relations between China and North Korea have been cooler than in previous years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met twice in less than a year but Xi has sent only two ceremonial congratulatory messages, including a New Year’s greeting in January. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Xi’s latest message to Kim contained fewer references to their countries’ friendship compared with last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For instance, in last year’s message, Xi stressed the importance of his meetings with Kim, saying it was China’s unwavering stance to safeguard, promote and develop the tradition of friendship and cooperation between the nations no matter how the international and regional situation changed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That message did not appear this time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, founded North Korea on Sept. 9, 1948.</span></p> <p><b>Message from Cuban leader</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kim Jong Un also received a congratulatory message on the anniversary from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, KCNA reported. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are highly appreciating our relations with the DPRK that are based on brotherly ties and historical foundations,” Diaz-Canel said, expressing his willingness to strengthen close solidarity with the North.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The DPRK, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is North Korea’s official name. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since North Korea and Cuba established diplomatic relations in 1960, the two Cold War-era allies have maintained close ties and deepened exchanges based on their shared anti-U.S. and anti-imperialist stance.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But Seoul and Havana forged formal ties in February, delivering what was widely seen as a setback to Pyongyang, which has long boasted about its brotherly ties with the Caribbean country. South Korea did not have diplomatic ties with Cuba for 65 years.</span></p> <hr/> <p><b>RELATED STORIES</b></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-cuba-ambassador-08082024042123.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">North Korea appoints top envoy to Cuba</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/south-korea-and-cuba-finalize-plans-for-embassies-06122024195559.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">South Korea and Cuba finalize plans for opening embassies</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/nk-media-cuba-02262024000036.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">N Korea reduces Cuba coverage as its ally enhances ties with South</span></a></p> <hr/> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since February, North Korea’s state-run media outlets have given only minimal coverage of Cuba.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, North Korea’s state media did not mention Cuba when it reported a list of countries that sent congratulatory messages over the 112th anniversary in April of the birth of the North’s late founder, Kim Il Sung.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At that time, it was widely suspected that North Korea intentionally omitted Cuba in a show of dissatisfaction over Cuba’s forging of diplomatic ties with South Korea.</span></p> <p><b><i>Edited by Mike Firn.</i></b></p>
Content TypeText
LanguageEnglish
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
RightsKCNA via Reuters
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 9, 2024 02:42 EDT
BylineBy Taejun Kang for RFA
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English