On June 8, ahead of a state visit to Pyongyang, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, an article was published in the Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun titled “Carrying Forward the Past and Forging Ahead Together to Write a New Chapter in China-DPRK Traditional Friendship.” The full text of the article is as follows:

Carrying Forward the Past and Forging Ahead Together

Writing a New Chapter in China-DPRK Traditional Friendship

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. At the invitation of the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, I will soon pay a state visit to the DPRK. This is my second visit to the beautiful country of the DPRK after seven years. I look forward to discussing with the General Secretary the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK and charting the course for the development of bilateral relations.

China and the DPRK are socialist friendly neighbors sharing weal and woe and a common future. The traditional friendship between China and the DPRK is a valuable asset shared by the two parties, two countries, and two peoples. No matter how times change or the international situation evolves, this traditional friendship remains unbreakable, enduring, and continuously brimming with vitality.

Top-level strategic guidance is the greatest strength of China-DPRK relations. Historically, the older generations of leaders in both countries knew each other well and enjoyed close ties. In recent years, I have met six times with the General Secretary, maintaining close strategic communication and jointly drawing a blueprint for the development of China-DPRK relations. I firmly believe that with top leaders at the helm, the ship of China-DPRK relations will surely brave the wind and waves and forge ahead courageously.

The shared socialist ideal is the defining feature of China-DPRK relations. Both the Communist Party of China and the Workers’ Party of Korea are Marxist ruling parties, and both countries are fellow travelers on the socialist path. I firmly believe that by jointly advancing the development of their respective party and national undertakings and continuously strengthening practical exchanges and cooperation, both parties and countries will effectively promote national prosperity and the well-being of their peoples, while constantly demonstrating the significant advantages and bright prospects of socialism.

The traditional friendship of shared destiny is the deep foundation of China-DPRK relations. During the arduous years of striving for national independence and liberation, the peoples of China and the DPRK shared hardships and life-and-death struggles, forging a great fighting friendship with their blood. In the development of their respective socialist causes, the two peoples have stood shoulder to shoulder, sharing joys and sorrows, vividly exemplifying the comradely bond of mutual trust and solidarity. I firmly believe that the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK, tested by the changing times and international vicissitudes, will be passed down from generation to generation and last forever.

High-level strategic coordination is the contemporary essence of China-DPRK relations. Promoting regional lasting peace and global peace and stability is the common pursuit of the two parties, two countries, and two peoples. Both sides firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and work together to maintain regional peace and tranquility, international fairness and justice, and the post-war international order. I firmly believe that by continuously deepening strategic coordination, both sides will jointly follow the right path of peaceful development and win-win cooperation.

In recent years, amid the accelerating changes of a century and the intertwined and turbulent international situation, both sides have focused on managing their own affairs well and forging ahead unremittingly on the socialist path. China has achieved a good start in the 15th Five-Year Plan and is striving to create a new situation in the modernization of Chinese-style development, making great strides toward the second centenary goal. The Workers’ Party of Korea successfully held its Ninth Congress, making strategic plans and major deployments for the development of the party and national undertakings, ushering in a new period of comprehensive socialist development.

Maintaining, consolidating, and developing China-DPRK relations has always been an unwavering policy of the Chinese party and government. Currently, China-DPRK relations stand at a new historical starting point, facing new development opportunities and bearing new missions of the times. China is willing to work with the DPRK to grasp bilateral relations from a strategic perspective, promote their progress with the times, and achieve greater development.

— Deepen strategic communication and firmly grasp the correct direction of China-DPRK relations. We must maintain the fine tradition of high-level exchanges between the two parties and countries, interacting as frequently as relatives. Taking the 65th anniversary of the signing

Pyongyang

Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, is one of the oldest cities in Korea, with a history dating back over 2,000 years as a key settlement and later the capital of the ancient Goguryeo kingdom. Heavily rebuilt after being devastated during the Korean War (1950–1953), the city is now characterized by its grand Soviet-style architecture, monumental structures like the Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung Square, and a highly controlled, state-centric atmosphere. It serves as the political, cultural, and economic heart of the country, though access for outsiders remains extremely limited.

Rodong Sinmun

Rodong Sinmun is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first published on November 1, 1945. As the primary news outlet in North Korea, it serves as a key tool for disseminating the government’s political ideology and propaganda, reflecting the views of the ruling party. Its history is closely tied to the country’s leadership, evolving from a revolutionary publication into a daily mouthpiece for the state.

China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance

The China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance is a bilateral agreement signed in 1961 between the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). It established a formal military alliance, requiring both nations to provide immediate military and other assistance if either is attacked, and has served as a cornerstone of their diplomatic and strategic relationship. The treaty remains in effect today, reflecting the longstanding historical ties between the two countries.

Workers’ Party of Korea

The Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) is the founding and ruling political party of North Korea, established in 1949 through the merger of the North Korean Workers’ Party and the South Korean Workers’ Party. It has governed the country under a highly centralized, single-party system based on the ideology of Juche (self-reliance) and Songun (military-first), with the Kim family dynasty holding successive leadership roles. The party’s history is marked by its role in the Korean War, the consolidation of a totalitarian state, and the development of nuclear weapons amid international isolation.

Communist Party of China

The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the founding and ruling political party of the People’s Republic of China, established in 1921 in Shanghai. It led the Chinese Communist Revolution, which culminated in the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949, and has since governed the country under a one-party system. The CPC continues to play a central role in China’s political, economic, and social development.

Ninth Congress

The Ninth Congress typically refers to a significant political meeting, such as the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, held in April 1969 in Beijing. This congress was notable for formally adopting the Cultural Revolution’s ideological line, emphasizing class struggle, and amending the party constitution to designate Lin Biao as Mao Zedong’s successor. It was a pivotal event that shaped China’s political landscape during a tumultuous period.

15th Five-Year Plan

The “15th Five-Year Plan” is a major socio-economic development strategy of the People’s Republic of China, covering the period from 2026 to 2030. It continues the country’s long-standing tradition of national planning, which began with the First Five-Year Plan in 1953, and outlines key goals for economic growth, technological innovation, and social welfare. This plan builds on the achievements of previous plans, aiming to advance China’s modernization and address emerging challenges such as environmental sustainability and demographic shifts.