China’s top legislator meets Kim Jong Un, says Beijing willing to deepen trust

In a bid to strengthen ties between the two nations, China's top lawmaker Zhao Leji on Saturday (Apr 13) met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang and expressed Beijing's willingness to work towards boosting cooperation and deepening trust, said Chinese state media reports.

Zhao's official tour to North Korea marks the first visit by the highest-ranking Chinese official since the year 2018 when Li Zhanshu attended the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding.

"No matter how the international situation changes, the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK, created and nurtured by the older generation of leaders from both parties and countries, remains deep-rooted and strong over time," Zhao said in a speech, according to China's Xinhua news agency.

At the end of Zhao's three-day visit to Pyongyang, he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday.

The meeting between the top Chinese diplomat and North Korean leader came as China kickstarted a "friendship year" with DPRK and is willing to make efforts for the diplomatic ties to reach a "higher level".

Kim Jong Un underlined that North Korea and China have a "deep historical tradition" and added that China-DPRK relations are "constantly developing to a new and higher stage," reported CCTV.

North Korea test-fires new hypersonic missile

Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un on Wednesday (Apr 10) said that unstable geopolitical situations surrounding the country meant now was the time to be more prepared for war than ever.

"Outlining the complicated international situation ... and the uncertain and unstable military and political situation around the DPRK, he said that now is the time to be more thoroughly prepared for a war than ever before," state media quoted Kim on Thursday.

His remarks came after Pyongyang on Tuesday fired a new hypersonic missile.

Overseeing the launch of the Hwasong-16B missile, the supreme leader called it a strategic weapon showcasing the "absolute superiority" of Pyongyang's defence technology, KCNA reported.

He said that the launch would provide North Korea with the capacity for "rapidly, accurately and powerfully striking any target in the enemy side worldwide".

(With inputs from agencies)