China seeking to fortify ties with DPRK in 'various fields'
The foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning does not confirm whether Kim would be visiting China soon, which Mao said she had "no information to provide" regarding that matter.
-
A visitor carries her pet up to the Yiyanwang Three Kingdoms viewing platform that looks over into the North Korean and Russian borders across from Fangchuan in northeastern China's Jilin province on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
According to Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a regular briefing on Tuesday, China is seeking to advance cooperation with the DPRK in "various fields", especially after its leader, Kim Jong Un, arrived in Russia on his first trip abroad in four years.
"China-North Korea relations are developing well," Mao said, adding that the two sides are "implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries".
Mao also noted the deepening of "exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, and pushing for bilateral relations to continue to achieve even greater development".
However, it was not confirmed whether Kim would be visiting China soon, and Mao said she had "no information to provide" regarding that matter.
Read more: US, allies call on China to stop oil tankers heading to DPRK
Ties between China and the DPRK have shown strong solidarity in the long run after China's Vice Premier and member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party CCP Liu Guozhong attended the 75th founding anniversary this past weekend.
This follows amid Kim's confirmed visit to Russia at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin on September 10, as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the two leaders will discuss matters pertaining to bilateral relations, among them the UNSC sanctions against the DPRK.
The DPRK has been under UN sanctions since 2006 due to its ballistic missile launches and nuclear programs. In 2017, additional sanctions were imposed to limit its crude oil imports. However, the UNSC has struggled to reach a united position since then, and in May 2022, China and Russia vetoed a resolution proposing new sanctions on Pyongyang. Subsequently, despite several ballistic missile tests conducted by North Korea, no Council resolution or statement has been adopted.
