China sends delegation to Pyongyang to celebrate founding of North Korea
Chinese visit comes as rumours circulate Kim Jong Un is preparing to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss an arms deal with Russia.
China to send a delegation, led by vice-premier Liu Guozhong, to join celebrations to mark North Korea’s 75th anniversary as a nation on Saturday, state media has confirmed.
The Korean Central News Agency said the visit by Liu’s delegation comes following an invitation from North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party.
The report did not specify if the Chinese delegation would meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
News of the Chinese visit comes as speculation rises the Korean leader is preparing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an deal to replenish weapons supplies depleted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In return for providing Russia with artillery shells and other ammunition, analysts believe North Korea may look to the Kremlin to supply critically needed energy aid, food aid, and advanced weapons technologies.
Such a trade of warfare technologies may increase North Korea’s threat against the rest of the world, adding to Kim’s growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles designed to strike against Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
Mr Kim has been perceived as moving to break out of diplomatic isolation by strengthening ties with Moscow and Beijing.
Strengthening of such ties would place Pyongyang at the centre of a united front with Russia and China.
Speaking at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Wednesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged all United Nations member states to fulfil their sanctions obligations under existing Security Council resolutions to limit North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
UN sanctions include a ban on arms trade with the country, Yoon’s office said in a statement.
Mr Yoon’s office did not reveal if the South Korean president specifically called out Russia while expressing those concerns to his fellow UN counterparts.
