Ranked 4th and 5th in China meet North Korea's Kim Seong-nam... "Creating an external environment for peace and stability"

North Korean Workers' Party Delegation Visits China
Exchanges Views on Korean Peninsula Issues with Liu Jianchao, Mentioned as Next Foreign Minister

High-ranking officials ranked 4th and 5th in China met consecutively with Kim Song-nam, head of the Workers' Party International Department and responsible for North Korea's 'party-to-party diplomacy,' during their visit to China, conveying their intention to jointly create 'regional peace.'

According to China's Xinhua News Agency on the 22nd, Wang Huning, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) (Standing Committee member of the CPC Central Political Bureau and officially ranked 4th), met with Kim Song-nam, who led the Workers' Party delegation visiting China the previous day.

Chairman Wang, known by the nickname 'Xi Jinping's strategist,' is the highest-ranking Chinese official to have contacted North Korea since it lifted its COVID-19 lockdown.

Chairman Wang said, "Under the attention and guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong-un, the traditional friendship between China and North Korea has been continuously strengthened and developed," adding, "This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 'Year of China-North Korea Friendship.' China is willing to work with North Korea to transform the joint understanding of the highest leaders of both countries into practical actions for China-North Korea friendship."

He continued, "We are willing to deepen unity and cooperation, strengthen strategic communication, and jointly create a peaceful and stable external environment."

In response, Kim Song-nam said, "I believe the 'Year of China-North Korea Friendship' will promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries and lead to greater development of the socialist undertakings of both nations."

Kim Seong-nam, North Korea International Department Director (right).
Photo by Yonhap News

The meeting was also attended by Sun Taiping, head of the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) (Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat and concurrently Vice Chairman of the CPPCC), and Wang Dongfeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the CPPCC.

The North Korean delegation also met with Liu Jianchao, head of the CPC International Liaison Department, who is considered the Chinese counterpart for 'party-to-party diplomacy' and a candidate for the next foreign minister, on the same day.

The CPC International Liaison Department stated that Liu Jianchao and Kim Song-nam exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other mutual interests during their meeting the previous day.

Liu said, "Taking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 'Year of China-North Korea Friendship' as an opportunity, China is willing to strengthen exchanges between the parties, deepen strategic communication, promote friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields, and promote regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity."

On the following day, the 22nd, Cai Qi, a key figure serving as Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee (Standing Committee member of the CPC Central Political Bureau), met with Kim Song-nam, according to China Central Television (CCTV).

Cai Qi, who functions as the chief of staff to Chairman Xi Jinping, is officially ranked 5th in China but is considered to have a higher actual status as the head of the security line overseeing the United Front Work Department, Organization Department, Propaganda Department, Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Discipline Inspection Commission, and Ministry of Public Security within the party.

Cai said, "The Chinese Communist Party, together with the Workers' Party of Korea, is willing to faithfully implement the important joint understanding of the two top leaders, make good use of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Year of China-North Korea Friendship as an opportunity, strengthen strategic communication, deepen exchanges of governance experience between the parties and governments, and engage in practical cooperation," adding, "We want to promote new and greater development in China-North Korea relations and jointly safeguard the overall situation of regional peace and stability."

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean Workers' Party delegation plans to visit China, Vietnam, and Laos, having arrived in Beijing, China, the first destination, the previous day.

Kim Song-nam, who leads the delegation, was appointed head of the International Department in January 2021 and is a prominent 'China expert' who previously served as an interpreter for Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. This is his first overseas trip since becoming head of the International Department.

The three-country tour by the Workers' Party delegation is interpreted as an effort to strengthen relations with socialist countries, traditional allies of North Korea, through party-level exchanges.

Additionally, it appears aimed at enhancing diplomatic activities with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which had somewhat cooled since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laos, which the Workers' Party delegation will visit, is the ASEAN chair country this year and is preparing for various ASEAN diplomatic and security meetings, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The ARF is the only regional multilateral security consultation body in which North Korea participates.