By Kang Seung-woo
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stepped up efforts to cement its relations with China by visiting the cemetery of Chinese soldiers in his country on Monday.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim, along with senior officials from the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, the government and the military, paid homage at the cemetery of the fallen fighters of the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) in Hoechang county.
“The cemetery is a historical symbol of combat camaraderie between North Korea and China who jointly fought in the Korean War,” he said, praising China’s bravery and sacrifice.
Kim, who took power in December 2011 following the death of his father Kim Jong-il, also laid a wreath on the grave of Mao Anying, the son of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong who died in the three-year war.
The Kim visit can translate into his efforts to improve bilateral relations that have cooled since North Korea launched a long-range rocket in December and tested a nuclear device in February.
Angered by the North’s acts, China, Pyongyang’s only major ally, joined the U.S.-led United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s expanded sanctions on the North in March.
In addition, the state-run Bank of China suspended all transactions by the Foreign Trade Bank of North Korea, another U.S.-led push to contain funding for the North’s nuclear and missile proliferation programs.
In addition to the trip, Kim, toured the Songhung Revolutionary Site where the command post of the CPV was located during the conflict.
He said that Chinese forces fought hard to beat back imperialist aggression on the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, the KCNA said that Kim was accompanied by top officials such as Premier Pak Pong-ju, Choe Ryong-hae, director of the military General Political Bureau and Jang Song-thaek, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission.