Seoul [South Korea], October 26: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made a surprise visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong. Kim was accompanied by senior Chinese Party official Wang Huning, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Chinese state television reported on Saturday.
Together, they laid a wreath at the monument to the Chinese People's Volunteers to commemorate the Chinese soldiers who fell during the Korean War.
At that time, North Korea and China fought side by side against the US-led United Nations forces. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also took part in the commemorative ceremony.
According to the state news agency Xinhua, Kim thanked China for its long-standing support for North Korea's socialist cause.
He reportedly said that the prospects for cooperation between the two countries were very promising.
Kim's visit took place shortly before the 76th anniversary of the entry of Chinese troops into the Korean War, which is referred to in China as "The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea."
Kim also visited a car factory in Dandong before leaving the country via a border bridge over the Yalu River - which had been inaugurated a few weeks earlier - on his way back to North Korea.
The Chinese side did not confirm that Kim had also met Chinese Premier Li Qiang, as South Korea's official news agency Yonhap had reported, citing an anonymous government source.
China is the most important trading partner of North Korea, which is subject to UN sanctions due to its nuclear weapons programme. In June, Chinese President Xi Jinping travelled to North Korea on a state visit.
The four-lane, 3-kilometre road bridge across the Yalu River linking Dandong with the North Korean city of Sinuiju was opened in mid-October.
It is intended to facilitate trade between the two countries.
Source: Qatar Tribune