The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 23rd that Kim Jong Un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, expressed his gratitude in a reply to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who had sent a congratulatory message for the 77th anniversary of North Korea's founding (Sept. 9).
In the reply sent on the 21st, Kim said that attending the 80th anniversary Victory Day military parade in China early this month and meeting Xi was "a meaningful reunion," adding, "I could fully feel the unwavering support and special friendship of the Chinese party, government, and people."
He also said that "further strengthening and developing the traditional DPRK-China (North Korea-China) relations of friendship and cooperation in line with the demands of the times is the steadfast position of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." He added, "Together with our Chinese comrades, we believe that by more vigorously propelling the development of DPRK-China friendship in the course of the common struggle to realize the socialist cause, we will be able to provide even greater benefits to the peoples of the two countries."
This year's reply by Kim included the term "cooperation," which did not appear last year, reflecting a mood of "tightening DPRK-China ties." The length also increased to a total of 499 characters, up from 336 last year.