Chinese state media has announced that Premier Li Qiang, a key figure in the country, arrived in North Korea on Thursday ahead of a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).
Li will be among several high-profile attendees, including leaders from Vietnam and Laos, and delegates from Nicaragua and Venezuela. Meanwhile, Russia—a major ally for North Korea—has sent a delegation led by Dmitry Medvedev, a close associate of President Vladimir Putin, according to South Korean reports.
Experts suggest that Li’s visit signifies an “upgrade” for the level of delegations attending such events, highlighting China’s effort to reinforce its status in North Korea relations. Historically, China has been North Korea’s greatest ally, especially during the Korean War, though there’s been a noticeable shift in recent years with Russia expanding its influence.
As reported by state news, Li has previously stood in for Xi Jinping at international functions and participated in goodwill gestures such as the WPK’s parade. Upon arrival, he emphasized that China and North Korea are “socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers,” showcasing their deep-rooted friendship.
Despite a perceived decline in Chinese influence in North Korea since the COVID-19 outbreak, Li claimed that the relationship is now “full of new dynamism” and provided an example of Kim Jong Un attending a parade in Beijing to celebrate World War II’s conclusion. Interestingly, the Chinese government has downplayed America’s contributions to that historical event.
Li also affirmed China’s willingness to cooperate closely with North Korea, promising to uphold agreements made by both leaders and enhance communication and partnership.
Experts from Korea JoongAng Ilbo pointed out that a decade ago, during the 70th anniversary of the WPK, China’s delegation was notably less significant. South Korean professor Yang Moo-jin suggested that Li’s visit indicates a warming relationship between the two nations and visually positions North Korea as a key player alongside China and Russia during the parade.
However, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not prioritize Li’s visit in their coverage. They did confirm his visit scheduled for Tuesday and noted that China’s Shanghai Art Troupe had also arrived to attend the celebrations.
In contrast, NK state media shared a joint declaration between the WPK and United Russia, emphasizing support for each other’s political objectives. Part of this statement suggested that geopolitical tensions are largely due to Western policies aiming for total dominance, and it expressed gratitude to North Korea for its military support in Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian government entered a mutual defense agreement with North Korea in June 2024, and Putin’s recent visit to Pyongyang marked a significant step in their partnership, particularly in light of preparations for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. Furthermore, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s trip to Pyongyang in July also resulted in assurances of “unconditional” support from Kim.
As for the upcoming parade, Kim Jong Un aims to project that North Korea is not isolated but welcomes ties with various authoritarian regimes. Among those expected to send delegations are China, Nicaragua’s ruling party, and ruling parties from Venezuela and Iran. The President of Laos is also on the guest list.
On Thursday, Kim visited a museum dedicated to the WPK and delivered a speech extolling the values of his predecessors and advocating for the South Korean people to pursue socialism and communism with vigor. Reports from KCNA described an enthusiastic response from attendees, showcasing a blend of admiration and reverence typically seen in these contexts.
