Beijing: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has assured Chinese President Xi Jinping that Pyongyang will support Beijing in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and developmental interests, as reported by Al Jazeera.
The meeting between Xi and Kim on Thursday occurred just a day after the North Korean leader participated in a grand military parade in Beijing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi, commemorating 80 years since the conclusion of World War II.
The parade highlighted China's newest stealth fighters, tanks, and ballistic missiles in a meticulously coordinated exhibition, according to Al Jazeera.
In an article released on Friday by North Korea's state-operated Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim was quoted stating, "Regardless of how the global situation evolves, the bond of friendship will remain unchanged" between Pyongyang and Beijing.
"The DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] will consistently support and promote the stance and efforts of the Communist Party of China and the government of the People's Republic of China in defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and developmental interests of the state," Kim expressed to Xi, as reported by KCNA.
Xi reciprocated by stating that China and North Korea are "good neighbours, good friends, and good comrades" sharing "a common destiny," and he expressed his willingness to "defend, strengthen, and advance" the relationship between the two nations, as reported by Al Jazeera.
KCNA confirmed that Kim left Beijing on Thursday, marking the end of his first trip outside North Korea since his meeting with Putin in Russia in 2023. High-ranking officials from the Chinese Communist Party, including Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, were present at a farewell ceremony for the North Korean leader.
The meeting took place amid increasing collaboration between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang. On Wednesday, Kim, Putin, and Xi engaged in discussions lasting two and a half hours regarding plans for "long-term" cooperation, as reported by Al Jazeera. Additionally, Putin and Kim held a separate meeting, where both leaders commended their expanding military alliance.
Seemingly disturbed by the event, U.S. President Donald Trump shared on Truth Social: "Please extend my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you plot against The United States of America." A Kremlin spokesperson dismissed these comments, stating, "no one even had this in their thoughts."
Putin subsequently sent Kim a congratulatory note for North Korea's foundation day, stating: "The heroic participation of your combat forces in liberating the Kursk territories from the invaders is a clear symbol of friendship and mutual assistance between Russia and North Korea." He further expressed, "I am confident that we will continue to collaborate to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two nations," according to KCNA.
North Korea has controversially sent thousands of troops to the Russian region of Kursk and has provided artillery shells and missiles to Moscow in support of its conflict against Ukraine, as reported by Al Jazeera.
During his talks with Putin in Beijing, Kim reportedly committed that North Korea would "fully support" Russia's military as a "fraternal duty," according to KCNA.
