North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to strengthen the long-term bilateral relationship with China, an announcement made during his recent visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong. This commitment was reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 25, highlighting Pyongyang’s dedication to its strategic alliance with Beijing.
During his visit, Mr. Kim underscored the historical depth of the relationship between the two nations. “We will always remember the history of the great descendants of the Chinese people who helped our revolution at the cost of their blood,” Kim Jong Un stated. He further emphasized the ongoing effort to “firmly establish the history of friendship between North Korea and China,” reaffirming the enduring bond that has characterized their ties for decades.
Mr. Kim was accompanied by a high-ranking delegation of senior party and state officials. Key figures in his entourage included Jo Yong-won, a member of the Standing Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee; North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui; and his influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, who serves as a party director.
Details of the visit were corroborated by a South Korean government source, confirming that Mr. Kim Jong Un met with Wang Huning in Dandong. Wang Huning, China’s fourth-ranking official and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, held discussions with the North Korean leader. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, alongside other senior officials, was also present at these crucial meetings, signaling the importance both nations place on this diplomatic exchange.
China continues to be North Korea’s most vital economic partner and a pivotal diplomatic ally on the international stage. Both countries have consistently increased their high-level exchanges, reinforcing their alliance. Notably, President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pyongyang in June 2026 saw the two leaders jointly commit to expanding political, economic, and other forms of cooperation, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.
