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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho shake hands in Pyongyang on Sept. 2. (provided by the Chinese Foreign Ministry)

During a meeting in Pyongyang on Sept. 2, the top diplomats from China and North Korea — which are celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations this year — stressed stronger cooperation and closer communication on Korean Peninsula issues. The North Korean foreign minister used the meeting to express public support for China’s stance and action regarding the ongoing antigovernment protests in Hong Kong, remarking that “Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported on Sept. 3 that Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who also serves on China’s State Council, said that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea this past June had “increased the traditional friendship and mutual strategic trust between North Korea and China, bringing bilateral relations into a new historic era.” Wang reportedly made those remarks during a press conference with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho on Tuesday.

“Our desire is to quickly and fully carry out the major agreements reached by General Secretary Xi Jinping and Chairman Kim Jong-un, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, to promote amicable exchange and technical cooperation, and to communicate and cooperate closely on the international stage,” Wang said.

“Regardless of the changes in international affairs during the 70 years [since establishing diplomatic relations], China and North Korea have always faced adversity together and moved forward side by side. Today, North Korea is constantly achieving new progress in all areas of the economy and society while implementing a new strategic line,” Wang said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho engage in talks in Pyongyang on Sept. 2. (provided by the Chinese Foreign Ministry)

By way of response, Ri Yong-ho said, “By meeting five times in the space of a year, the leaders of North Korea and China have reached important agreements about our two countries’ traditional amicable and friendly relations and have opened up a new era in our bilateral relations. I hope that the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries will be celebrated on a grand scale and that an effort will be made to further develop bilateral relations in this new era.”

“Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong, and foreign powers cannot intervene. The North Korean party and government firmly support the Chinese party and government’s national sovereignty, territorial protection, and their ‘one country, two systems’ policy,” Ri said, throwing his support behind China’s position on the Hong Kong protests.

The two diplomats also took time to explore their respective positions about Korean Peninsula issues and agreed to communicate better about those issues and to work toward the peace and stability of the region, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. While the details of their discussion about the nuclear issue weren’t made public, this likely accounted for a large portion of their discussion about Korean Peninsula affairs.

“China believes progress in North Korea-US talks could create a virtuous cycle that would also help resolve its own conflict with the US. China appears to have told North Korea that, if it takes a forward-looking stance on denuclearization, China will convey that to the US and put in a good word for Pyongyang. In addition to that, China probably stressed its support for North Korea’s strategic line on economic development,” said Yang Gap-yong, head of research at the Institute for National Security Strategy.

Some think that Wang may also have formally invited Kim Jong-un to visit China in October to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China’s communist government and the 70th anniversary of North Korea and China’s establishment of diplomatic relations.

By Park Min-hee, staff reporter

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