Pyongyang [North Korea], July 27 (ANI): North Korean chief Kim Jong-un greeted the Russian and Chinese delegations on Thursday in Pyongyang, who’ve reached right here to attend celebrations for the seventieth anniversary of the armistice of the 1950-53 Korean War, Yonhap reported quoting North Korean state media mentioned on Thursday.
Russia’s army delegation, led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and China’s party-government delegation, led by Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong, arrived in Pyongyang this week to attend occasions marking the landmark anniversary on July 27, which the North refers to as Victory Day, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Yonhap News Agency brings South Korean news via newspapers, broadcasters, authorities businesses, companies and Internet portals on a real-time foundation.
The visits by the delegations from the 2 international locations marked a uncommon invitation of overseas friends on condition that the reclusive state has maintained strict border restrictions for the reason that COVID-19 breakout.
On Wednesday, Kim and Shoigu visited the “Weaponry Exhibition-2023” occasion showcasing new weapons and tools, accompanied by key Pyongyang officers, in keeping with the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
During their go to, Kim launched weapons the North has produced underneath its nationwide defence improvement plan and shared his views on the “worldwide trend of weaponry development and its strategy” and the safety agenda going through the 2 international locations.
According to the KCNA, Kim expressed his views on “the issues of mutual concern in the struggle to safeguard the sovereignty, development and interests of the two countries” from “the high-handed and arbitrary practices of the imperialists.”Photos launched by state media confirmed numerous weapons on show, together with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in addition to unmanned plane that gave the impression to be modelled after the US surveillance plane Global Hawk.
Kim and Shoigu held a separate assembly the identical day, the place they mentioned defence points in a “cordial atmosphere overflowing with militant friendship.” The KCNA mentioned the 2 sides “reached a consensus” on their views on the subjects mentioned.
The assembly has raised hypothesis that the 2 sides could have mentioned the availability of North Korean weapons to Russia.
North Korea has been strengthening its ties with Russia regardless of worldwide condemnation of Moscow’s battle with Ukraine, amid allegations that Pyongyang has supplied arms to Moscow to be used within the battle.
The KCNA additionally reported that Shoigu gave Kim a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It added the assembly served as an event to additional strengthen their bilateral ties amid “the ever-changing regional and international security environment.”At midnight, the North Korean chief attended a efficiency ceremony marking Victory Day with the Chinese and Russian delegations.
Prior to the occasion, Kim met individually with the Chinese friends that arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
During the assembly, Li gave Kim a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping, the KCNA mentioned, with out offering particulars.
Upon receiving the letter, Kim mentioned the Beijing delegation’s go to displays Xi’s “will to attach great importance to the DPRK-China friendship” and vowed to bolster ties with the “fraternal Chinese people.”Observers mentioned North Korea apparently goals to make use of its celebrations to publicly showcase its shut ties with China and Russia within the face of strengthened defence cooperation amongst South Korea, the US and Japan in opposition to Pyongyang’s provocations.
The China and Russian delegations’ go to got here on the time amid simmering tensions between North Korea and South Korea and its US ally.
The US and South Korea have condemned Pyongyang’s missile take a look at a number of instances, and on a number of events, Washington and Seoul have deployed army belongings like nuclear-capable submarines and bombers.
The tensions elevated as final week US soldier Pvt Travis King illegally entered North Korea after crossing its border with South Korea, the place he was assigned to US Forces Korea and had been on the Joint Security Area (JSA) tour as a civilian.
King was going through disciplinary motion and was meant to return to the US. He is believed to be the primary US soldier to cross into North Korea since 1982.
On July 17, the United Nations Command (UNC) deputy commander, Gen Andrew Harrison, mentioned a”conversation has commenced” with North Korea over King. But Pyongyang doesn’t appear to be responding to Washington immediately, reported CNN.
Despite financial hardships and world criticism of its nuclear and missile improvement applications, the North has additionally continued to pursue its army ambitions, firing a Hwasong-18 ICBM within the newest provocation this month. (ANI)