China's Top Political Adviser Wang Huning to Visit North Korea for Three Days

Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Huning is scheduled to make a three-day visit to North Korea starting Wednesday. Wang, who is also China’s top political adviser and the fourth-highest-ranking official in the Communist Party of China (CPC), will lead a delegation comprising government officials and members of the ruling CPC, according to reports from both countries’ state media on Tuesday. The visit follows a trip to Beijing last week by North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song. During his visit to China, which concluded on Sunday, Premier Pak agreed with Chinese President Xi Jinping to strengthen bilateral strategic coordination between the two countries. The series of diplomatic engagements coincides with the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and North Korea, which fell on Saturday. The historic treaty includes provisions for the deployment of military support and other assistance immediately should either country come under armed attack. In June, President Xi made a two-day visit to Pyongyang, marking his first trip to North Korea since 2019. Xi stated he was ready to work with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to steer bilateral relations towards long-term and stable development, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Bilateral relations between the two countries are now showing signs of improvement after previously being suspected of cooling due to North Korea’s increasingly close military cooperation with Russia, including Pyongyang’s decision to send troops to assist Russia in the conflict against Ukraine.