BEIJING – North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on Sunday, her second visit to the Chinese capital in just one month, as the two allied nations continue to strengthen strategic coordination.
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| North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui departs for China from Pyongyang |
In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wang told Choe that "China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on international and regional issues," using the isolated state's official name.
The frequent high-level engagement is seen by analysts as part of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's broader effort to return to the world stage. The reclusive leader accompanied Choe to Beijing in early September for a large-scale military parade, an unprecedented opportunity that saw him share a stage with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The appearance was widely interpreted as an attempt to gain tacit backing for his country's sanctioned nuclear weapons program.
According to North Korea's official KCNA news agency, Foreign Minister Choe conveyed a message from Kim Jong Un stating that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is "invariable" and should evolve to "meet the needs of the times."
Choe noted that at their most recent summit on the sidelines of the parade, President Xi and Chairman Kim had established a "fundamental direction and principle" for the bilateral relationship in response to the changing international landscape, KCNA reported.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement added that Wang Yi told Choe the two Communist Party-led nations should enhance exchanges on governance, and briefed her on the internal situation of the world's second-largest economy.
KCNA also reported that while in Beijing earlier this month, Kim Jong Un had told President Xi that Pyongyang would continue to support China in the defense of its ally's sovereignty.
The foreign ministers' meeting comes as President Xi is expected to visit South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled to be held in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1.
South Korean officials also believe the U.S. President may visit the country for the APEC event, although Washington has not yet officially confirmed his attendance.
