SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- China's top envoy to Pyongyang visited the cemetery in an eastern North Korean province and paid his tribute to Chinese troops who fell during the 1950-53 Korean War to mark the 75th anniversary of their participation in the conflict, the Chinese Embassy in the North said Tuesday.
The visit came amid growing signs of improvement in bilateral relations between North Korea and China that have been cooled in the midst of Pyongyang's close alignment with Moscow.
Ambassador Wang Yajun headed a group of around 60 people, including embassy staff members, on a visit to the Changjin Lake Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs' Cemetery in South Hamgyong Province on Sunday, according to the website of the Chinese Embassy.
The visit was aimed at paying tribute to the fallen Chinese troops during a two-week conflict that took place in late 1950 near Changjin Lake, one of the major Korean War battle zones in the North.
"China and North Korea joined hands to repel aggressors and overcome the dangerous situation," Wang said in his eulogy. "The Chinese troops ultimately completed their mission."
North Korean officials, including Kim Yong-ju, director of the first Asian bureau of the North's foreign ministry, also attended the commemorations.
Last year was the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between North Korea and China. But the two nations skipped major celebrations and high-level personnel exchanges, while North Korea has been bolstering close military alignment with Russia.
Pyongyang now appears to be trying to mend ties with China by seeking to resume group tours for Chinese travelers and restarting the construction of a bridge over the Amnok River on its side of the shared border, according to Seoul's unification ministry.
This photo, captured from the website of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea on April 1, 2025, shows Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun reading his eulogy at the Changjin Lake Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs' Cemetery in South Hamgyong Province on March 30. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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