North Korea and China Resume Lunar New Year Exchange After 4 Years

First Event Since 2020 Due to COVID-19

North Korea and China are resuming their Lunar New Year friendship event after a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 30th, “A Chinese cultural delegation from Liaoning Province, led by Comrade Lui Hui An, publicity manager, the executive committee member of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, arrived in Pyongyang on the 29th to participate in the 2024 North Korea-China Friendship Lunar New Year event.”

Upon arrival at Pyongyang Sunan Airport, they were welcomed by Kim Kwang-il, the vice-chairman of the North Korea-China Friendship Association, and began their activities in North Korea by laying a flower basket at the statues of Former presidents Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il at Mansudae in Pyongyang.

The ‘North Korea-China Friendship Lunar New Year’ event was last held in January 2020, before North Korea closed its borders due to COVID-19.

At that time, a commemorative banquet of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea and a comprehensive performance by artists from the Chinese cultural and art delegation from Tianjin were held at the Pyongyang Ponghwa Art Theater. Even if it was not held annually, the friendship event continued on the occasion of the Lunar New Year until it was interrupted during the COVID-19 period.

This year’s Lunar New Year event, which marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China, is noteworthy as it takes place amidst recent high-level diplomatic activities between the two countries.

Earlier, a North Korean Ministry of Physical Education delegation led by Kim il-kuk the Minister of Physical Education, headed to China on the 27th. The purpose of the visit has not been disclosed.

From the Chinese side, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong visited North Korea from the 25th to the 27th and discussed various projects to be promoted this year and ways to strengthen cooperation with Foreign Minister Choi Son-hui and Vice Minister Park Myong-ho.

By. Yoon Seon Choi