China's envoy to N. Korea says 'blood-forged' bilateral friendship will reach new heights

This photo shows Ambassador Wang Yajun, right, speaking to senior North Korean painters during his visit to an art exhibition in Pyongyang commemorating the birth anniversary of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, captured from the website of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea, April 18. Yonhap

China's ambassador to North Korea has affirmed "the blood-forged" friendship between the two countries will be further developed to reach "new heights" during an event marking the recent birth anniversary of North Korea's founder, according to his embassy Tuesday.

Ambassador Wang Yajun made the remarks on Friday while attending an art exhibition by veteran North Korean artists in Pyongyang, commemorating the 113th birth anniversary of late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung.

Wang noted this year marks the 76th anniversary of the Chinese volunteer forces' entry into the 1950-53 Korean War, according to the website of the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang.

The ambassador also expressed confidence that the blood-forged bilateral traditional friendship will be carried forward and further developed, reaching new heights and contributing more to the maintenance of regional peace under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

At one particularly emotional moment, Choe Sok-kun, a 90-year-old senior North Korean painter present at the exhibition, joined Wang in singing the Chinese volunteer military song in Chinese, the embassy also said.

The Chinese embassy disclosed the envoy's visit amid signs that the two countries are working to mend their relationship, which had been strained by Pyongyang's military alignment with Russia over the war against Ukraine.

North Korea and China marked the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations last year without any high-level meetings between officials from the two countries.

"Beginning this year, bilateral ties appear to be entering a phase of recovery," an official at South Korea's unification ministry told reporters Tuesday.