Who attended the Friendship Tower wreath-laying ceremony in Pyongyang for Chinese soldiers?

North Korean participants included Kim Hyong-sik, vice chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly standing committee, and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Myong-su. Chinese participants included embassy official Qi Han and a delegation led by veterans affairs vice minister Hong Zongming.

Why did North Korean officials hold a tribute for Chinese soldiers at the Friendship Tower on Sunday?

The ceremony marked the 76th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteers’ entry into the 1950-53 Korean War. The Chinese side also hosted a reception later Sunday to mark the anniversary.

What did Kim Jong-un do during his visit to Dandong before the anniversary tribute?

Kim visited a war memorial to Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War, attended a banquet and toured a bus factory. The trip was described as a way to showcase the decades-old alliance with China and mark the anniversary.

N. Korean officials pay tribute to fallen Chinese soldiers at Friendship Tower

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Summary

North Korean officials laid wreaths at the Friendship Tower in Pyongyang on Sunday to honor Chinese soldiers who died in the Korean War, state media reported Monday. The ceremony marked the 76th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteers’ entry into the 1950-53 war. Chinese embassy officials and a delegation from China’s veterans affairs ministry also took part, while wreaths were laid at Chinese soldiers’ cemeteries and graves in several other locations. The tribute followed Kim Jong-un’s visit to Dandong last week.

Key Facts

The North Korean officials included Kim Hyong-sik, vice chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly standing committee, and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Myong-su.
Chinese participants included Qi Han, charge d’affaires ad interim at the Chinese Embassy, and a delegation led by Hong Zongming, vice minister of China’s veterans affairs ministry.
Wreaths were also laid at Chinese soldiers’ cemeteries and graves in Anju, Hoechang County, Onsong County and Kaesong.
The Chinese side hosted a reception later Sunday to mark the anniversary.
During his Dandong visit, Kim visited a memorial to Chinese soldiers, attended a banquet and toured a bus factory.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 26, 2026 10:53 am KST

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, visits the Chinese city of Dandong, Oct. 24, ahead of the anniversary of China's entry into the 1950-53 Korean War, reaffirming the two countries' blood-forged ties and vowing to advance their friendship, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

North Korean officials have paid tribute at the Friendship Tower in Pyongyang in honor of fallen Chinese soldiers, state media reported Monday, after leader Kim Jong-un's surprise day trip to China's Dandong last week.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said senior officials laid wreaths at the monument Sunday to mark the 76th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' entry into the 1950-53 Korean War.

Among them were Kim Hyong-sik, vice chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly standing committee, and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Myong-su. They were joined by Chinese embassy officials, including Qi Han, charge d'affaires ad interim, and a Chinese delegation led by Hong Zongming, vice minister of China's veterans affairs ministry.

Wreaths were also laid at cemeteries and graves of Chinese soldiers in Anju, Hoechang County, Onsong County and Kaesong.

The Chinese side hosted a reception later Sunday to mark the anniversary, the report added.

The North Korean leader traveled to the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday, a trip meant to showcase the decades-old alliance with China and mark the anniversary. He visited a war memorial to Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War, attended a banquet and toured a bus factory.

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