North Korea to host Russian and Chinese delegations
North Korea’s 70th anniversary of Victory Day celebration later this week is going to be marked by the presence of both the Russian defense minister and a high-level Chinese delegation as special guests, state media reported on Tuesday.
“A military delegation of the Russian Federation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu will pay a congratulatory visit to the DPRK,” North Korean state media KCNA reported.
A Chinese delegation will visit Pyongyang beginning on Wednesday. This was confirmed by the international department of the Communist Party’s Central Committee in a statement.
Beijing’s delegation is led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the standing committee of the country’s National People’s Congress.
The visits are seen as a notable diplomatic engagement with the isolated nation.
How are North Korea’s relations with Russia and China?
Russia continues to be one of North Korea’s staunch allies, fostering friendly relations. Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has shown unwavering support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, allegedly providing weapons to Moscow, according to Washington.
Beijing, despite being North Korea’s most important ally and economic benefactor, saw the resumption of some trade last year with Pyongyang after a strict self-imposed coronavirus blockade since early 2020. Beijing’s new envoy also took up his position this year.
Meanwhile, relations between the two Koreas are currently at one of their lowest points, with diplomatic talks stalled between Pyongyang and Seoul and Kim ramping up weapons development.
Tensions in the peninsula have also risen after a US soldier ran across the border into North Korea last week. US-South Korean military drills have also angered Pyongyang.
What is North Korea celebrating?
As the state media reports, Pyongyang intends to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, known as “Victory Day” in North Korea, in a “grand manner that will go down in history.”
The commemoration is set to feature a large-scale military parade and other noteworthy events.
Satellite images suggest that both soldiers and civilians have been undergoing training for the parade for several months, according to the Seoul-based website NK News.
During the event, North Korean leader Kim’s nuclear-capable missiles and other military advances are expected to be on display.