North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairperson Kim Jong-un paid his respects at a cemetery for fallen soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteers Army on the 75th anniversary of China's entry into the 1950-53 Korean War.
Korean Central News Agency reported on the 25th that Kim visited the Martyrs Cemetery of the Chinese People's Volunteers Army in Hoechang County, South Pyongan Province, the previous day and expressed "lofty respect." After a moment of silence mourning the fallen Chinese troops, Kim laid flowers at the grave of Mao Anying, the eldest son of former Chairman Mao Zedong and a soldier killed in the 1950-53 war.
The agency said, "The images of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers Army, who helped our people's revolutionary war with blood and demonstrated the spirit of internationalism and fraternal friendship, are cherished in the hearts of the peoples of the two countries as a precious symbol of DPRK-China friendship."
It continued, "Even as time passes and generations change, our people will never forget the noble blood shed and the immortal merits of the excellent sons and daughters of the Chinese people," adding, "The DPRK-China friendship forged in blood will continue to powerfully demonstrate its invincible vitality in the sacred struggle to realize anti-imperialist independence and the socialist cause."
Kim also paid his respects here ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Chinese troops' entry in 2020. As in 2020, this year is a major anniversary year (a year grandly commemorated every five years), and it is interpreted that Kim personally visited again.
However, compared with five years ago, this year there was no reported memorial remark by Kim, and fewer military cadres accompanied the visit. At the time, Kim noted that the "great victory" the North and China "won with blood while linking their destinies as one and sharing life and death, joys and sorrows" "still today, unchanged, truly carries enormous significance."