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| ▲ This photo, captured from the website of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea on July 10, 2025, shows the embassy hosting a reception the previous day to celebrate the 64th anniversary of a mutual defense treaty between China and North Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
N Korea-China
N. Korea's embassy in China holds reception to mark 64th anniv. of key treaty signing
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- The North Korean Embassy in China has held a reception to celebrate the 64th anniversary of the signing of a mutual defense treaty between the two nations, the North's state media said Sunday.
The event was held in Beijing on Thursday after the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang hosted a similar reception the preceding day ahead of the July 11 anniversary.
The reciprocal receptions came as North Korea's ties with China, the North's traditional ally, showed some signs of improvement after their bilateral relationship remained cool amid Pyongyang's close alignment with Moscow over Russia's war with Ukraine.
Wang Dongming, vice chairperson of the standing committee of China's National People's Congress, attended the event hosted by the North's embassy, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
At last year's reception marking the 63rd anniversary, China sent a lower-ranking official as the main guest amid cooled relations between the two nations.
A higher-level North Korean official was also present at the Chinese embassy's reception last week, with Kang Yun-sok, vice chairman of the standing committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, attending it.
"It is our steadfast stance that we will strengthen and develop friendly relations with China through generations," North Korean Ambassador to China Ri Ryong-nam said in a speech during Thursday's reception.
The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed on July 11, 1961, by the North's state founder Kim Il-sung and then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.
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