North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory message to Xi Jinping on Thursday after the current Chinese vice president was named the leader of China's ruling communist party, the North's state media said.
"Kim Jong-un ... Thursday sent a congratulatory message to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the CPC," reported the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), monitored in Seoul.
Earlier on Thursday, the Chinese Communist Party elected Xi as general secretary of the Central Committee of the party in its 18th congress. Xi was also named chair of the China Military Commission, which controls the country's military command.
"The 18th National Congress of the CPC marked a historic occasion ... and provided a new milestone for hastening the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics," the North Korean leader was quoted by KCNA as saying.
"Believing that the traditional DPRK-China friendship which has developed down through generations will continue to grow in conformity with the wishes of the two peoples, I sincerely wish you great success in your responsible work," Kim was also quoted as saying, using the acronym for North Korea's official name.
In a separate dispatch, KCNA also reported that North Korean and China inked a protocol on sports exchange in Pyongyang a day earlier. The deal was signed between the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports of North Korea and the General Administration of Sports of China, according to KCNA.