Kim Jong-un visits China, dismisses death rumors, vows to carry on 'blood-forged' friendship

North Korea's state news agency KCNA officially confirmed Kim Jong-un's visit to China, putting to rest rumors that had circulated about his death. Kim visited Dandong in Liaoning Province ahead of China's Korean War intervention anniversary, reaffirming the two countries' blood alliance and pledging to carry on their friendship. The trip was Kim's sixth visit to China since taking power and his first in just over a year, following a visit to Beijing in September last year for the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. It was also the first time Kim had visited China without meeting President Xi Jinping.

KCNA reported that Kim visited Dandong on Saturday — the 76th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's entry into the Korean War — and toured the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea Memorial Hall. North Korea's state radio, Korean Central Broadcasting Station, also carried news of the visit, making it accessible to ordinary North Koreans.

Kim was accompanied by senior party and government officials, including Cho Yong-won, secretary of the Korean Workers' Party Central Committee; Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui; secretaries Ri Il-hwan and Kim Song-nam; First Vice Premier Kim Tok-hun; Kim Yo-jong, director of the General Affairs Department; First Vice Director Kim Jae-ryong; and Ri Ryong-nam, North Korea's ambassador to China.

On the Chinese side, Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the country's fourth-ranked official, received Kim.

Also present were Wang Yi, director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office and foreign minister; Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party; Ma Zhaoxu, vice minister of commerce; Xu Kunlin, secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee; Zhang Bing, secretary of the Dandong Municipal Party Committee; and Wang Yajun, China's ambassador to North Korea.

The atmosphere was warm. Kim exchanged greetings with Chinese officials who came to welcome him, while children presented bouquets and waved North Korean and Chinese flags to greet the delegation.

With the national anthems of both countries playing, Kim laid a floral wreath at the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea Memorial Tower. The basket bore an inscription reading: "We will forever remember the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

China marks Oct. 25 — the date of its first victory in the Korean War — as its War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea commemoration day.

After paying his respects at the memorial tower, Kim said, "Our people will forever remember the glorious solidarity of fighting together with the Chinese people," adding, "We will pass down from generation to generation our eternal gratitude to the Chinese people, who aided our revolution with their blood."

Kim toured the exhibits at the memorial hall, guided by Wang Huning.

Kim said the memorial hall was "a precious blood-tested proof of the invincible DPRK-China friendship," and said it was the will of his party, government and people "to forever remember, uphold and firmly carry on the invincible friendship forged in blood — a brilliant history of overcoming trials together."

Kim presented the memorial hall with a commemorative photo-document panel of Kim Il-sung.

The panel bore a handwritten inscription reading: "In the canvas of great history, the righteous souls and spirit that defended peace beat on. We solemnly recall the footsteps of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, who connected the territories of our two countries along a single mountain range, and offer our gratitude and respect."

In talks with Wang Huning following the tour, Kim said it was "a rightful duty and obligation to solemnly recall the great solidarity and history at the place where the Chinese People's Volunteer Army set out," calling it "a moment to once again engrave in our hearts the preciousness of the DPRK-China friendship forged in blood."

He pledged that North Korea "will never forget, generation after generation, the history of China's outstanding sons and daughters aiding our revolution with their blood," and vowed to "steadfastly carry on the history of DPRK-China friendship."

Kim also expressed gratitude to Xi Jinping, saying that "the high international standing and dignity that the People's Republic of China holds today is the rightful result achieved by the Chinese people through struggle and effort under the wise leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core."

Wang conveyed Xi's greetings to Kim and said Kim's visit to the memorial hall "carries very significant meaning in continuously carrying forward and developing the traditional China-DPRK friendship and fighting camaraderie."

Kim also toured a bus factory in Dandong, encouraged the workers there, and then departed China via the New Yalu River Bridge.

Wang Huning and other central and local Chinese officials accompanied Kim's delegation to the midpoint of the bridge to see them off.

Standing at the midpoint of the bridge and taking in the view, Kim said he was confident the bridge would "without doubt accurately fulfill its historic mission of connecting the two countries and binding our hearts even more firmly."

The New Yalu River Bridge, which Kim used for his journey, is a four-lane span stretching 3,026 meters that connects Dandong with Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province — the two countries' largest trade hub — and officially opened Oct. 15. Sunday marked the first time Kim's on-site inspection of the bridge had been made public.