North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un Wants To Strengthen Ties With China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Huang Jingwen/Xinhua)

JAKARTA - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he will "more vigorously" improve relations with China, state media reported on Tuesday.

Leader Kim's comments came in response to Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulations on the anniversary of North Korea's founding, KCNA reported, as quoted by Reuters on September 23.

Leader Kim said he "felt quite good" about China's support during his visit to Beijing earlier this month, where he watched a military parade with President Xi.

President Xi stood side by side with Leader Kim during a World War II commemoration event in Beijing and held a separate bilateral meeting, their first in six years, earlier this month.

China is a key supporter and economic lifeline for North Korea.

Meanwhile, Leader Kim previously said there was no reason to avoid negotiations with the United States if Washington stopped pressuring his country to give up nuclear weapons, but he would never abandon nuclear weapons to end sanctions.