North Korea's state media reported that a delegation from the ruling party, traveling to China, Vietnam, and Laos, has arrived in Beijing.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that a delegation, led by alternate politburo member Kim Song Nam, was welcomed by a representative of the Chinese Communist Party at the airport. The exact nature of the trip was not specified in the report.

An earlier report by KCNA indicated that the delegation would continue their journey to Vietnam and Laos, though the purpose of the trip remained undisclosed. According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, Kim is considered a "China expert" in Pyongyang and has previously served as an interpreter for late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

The delegation reportedly held a meeting with Wang Huning, chairman of China's top political consultative body, as per Beijing's state news agency Xinhua. China stands as North Korea's primary economic benefactor and longstanding ally. Current leader Kim Jong Un has been making efforts to strengthen relations with Beijing while adopting a more aggressive stance towards Seoul.

In January, Kim announced that Pyongyang and Beijing had designated 2024 as the "year of DPRK-China friendship", using the acronym for the North's official name.

Highlighting the importance of this designation, Xinhua reported that, Wang expressed China's readiness to undertake "concrete actions to promote friendship between the two sides, enhance cooperation, improve strategic communication, and work together for a peaceful and stable external environment".

Analysts have noted that North Korea seems to be resuming diplomatic engagements after implementing Covid-19 border closures for several years. Earlier this month, the country sent a rare delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho to Mongolia. Additionally, North Korea maintains relatively strong relations with Laos and Vietnam.

Leader Kim held a historic summit with former US President Donald Trump in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi in 2019, which ultimately ended without a successful outcome.

KCNA reported that Kim sent a flower basket to Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith to commemorate the 69th founding anniversary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

In 2013, Laos faced widespread criticism for repatriating nine North Korean refugees, aged 15 to 19 at the time, despite pleas from Seoul and the UN expressing concerns about their safety upon return to their repressive homeland.

Image source: AFP