North Korean Foreign Minister Meets Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister

Illustration - Kim Il-Sung Field in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with senior Chinese diplomats visiting Pyongyang.

The visit comes as North Korea appears to be trying to strengthen relations with Beijing amid increased cooperation with Russia.

Choe met with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who visited North Korea this week, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a brief broadcast reported by ANTARA, Saturday, January 27.

As this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China, the two sides agreed to "continue to strengthen tactical cooperation and balance with each other to maintain common core interests," KCNA said.

The talks took place in a "friendly atmosphere," the media said.

Their meeting came after Choe returned from a visit to Russia this week, when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to show an increase in bilateral relations.

North Korea is increasing military cooperation with Russia, as well as increasing tensions with South Korea, which is labeled as "a major non-variant enemy."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sought to strengthen solidarity with China and Russia to deal with strengthening security cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan.

China is an old ally of North Korea and a major economic contributor to the country.

Sun's visit to Pyongyang was seen as a reciprocal visit after North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho visited China last month.

Pak and Sun also held bilateral talks on Thursday (25/1).

Also attending the meeting on Friday were Mr. and Wang Yajun, the Chinese ambassador in Pyongyang, KCNA said.