As the 75th anniversary of the Chinese military's participation in the Korean War approaches, North Korea has begun refurbishing the cemetery of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
On the 23rd, the Korean Central News Agency reported that a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of the Cemetery of the Martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers in Sinpyeong County, North Hwanghae Province, was held locally on the 22nd.
Attending the groundbreaking were Kang Chol-ho, vice minister at North Korea's Ministry of Urban Management, Wang Yajun, China's ambassador to North Korea, a delegation of veterans and families of martyrs from the Chinese People's Volunteers visiting North Korea, as well as Chinese students and ethnic Chinese.
They laid flower baskets at the graves and held a moment of silence to honor the martyrs. According to the agency, Vice Minister Kang also delivered a speech, but the specifics were not disclosed.
The Chinese military crossed the Yalu River to enter the Korean War on Oct. 19, 1950. However, China designated Oct. 25 of that year, when it won its first victory, as the anniversary of Resist America, Aid Korea. Resist America, Aid Korea means opposing the United States and helping North Korea.
North Korea and China are working to advance bilateral relations, taking Kim Jong Un's visit to China last month to mark the 80th anniversary of China's Victory Day as an opportunity.
Earlier, Ambassador Wang, on the 21st, met with a Chinese "tomb-sweeping and inspection delegation" visiting North Korea and emphasized "North Korea–China friendship," the Chinese Embassy in North Korea said. The delegation plans to visit cemeteries of Chinese military martyrs not only in Pyongyang but also in Hoechang, Kaesong, Anju, and Munju to pay respects and discuss maintenance of commemorative facilities with the North Korean side.
The embassy also said it had recently confirmed a newly erected monument in Kangdong County, Pyongyang, commemorating the Chinese military's participation in the Korean War, stating that the North Korean side plans to transfer the monument to protect it.