North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on the 28th. Captured from CGTN social media. 

Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (who also serves as Foreign Minister), and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met in Beijing on the 28th to discuss bilateral exchanges and cooperation, while also issuing messages that implicitly targeted the United States by opposing unilateralism and hegemonism.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang stated during the meeting that "safeguarding, consolidating, and developing China-North Korea relations has always been the firm and unwavering strategic policy of the Chinese party and government." He added, "Our duty is to effectively implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of both parties and both countries, strengthen strategic communication, and closely collaborate on exchanges and cooperation to jointly promote regional peace and development."

Wang emphasized, "The current international situation is chaotic, and the dangers of power politics and bullying behaviors are severe." He continued, "China highly appreciates North Korea's support for China's core interests and major concerns, as well as its support for the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and the Global Development, Security, Civilization, and Governance Initiatives proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping."

He further stated, "We are willing to work with North Korea to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, oppose all forms of hegemonism, and safeguard the common interests of both countries as well as international fairness and justice."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Wang introduced the domestic situation in China, stating that the country is currently advancing the cause of national rejuvenation and the construction of a powerful nation through Chinese-style modernization.

Wang added, "Both China and North Korea are socialist countries led by communist parties, sharing common ideals, beliefs, and goals of struggle," and explained that "the two countries can strengthen the exchange of governance experiences to assist in the development of each other’s socialist causes."

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui assessed that the 80th-anniversary celebration of China's Victory Day held earlier this month "demonstrated China’s historical achievements, comprehensive national power, and international status." She noted that "the historic meeting between the top leaders of the two parties and two countries provided strategic guidance and strong momentum for deepening North Korea-China relations, with socialism at the core."

Choe emphasized, "The continuous deepening and development of North Korea-China relations is North Korea's firm position," adding, "North Korea is willing to work with China to effectively implement the consensus of the top leaders, strengthen strategic communication, promote friendly exchanges, and deepen practical cooperation to push North Korea-China relations to a new and higher level."

She also added, "We are willing to tighten multilateral coordination with China, jointly deter unilateralism and power politics, and promote the establishment of a more equitable and just world order," according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

While neither Wang nor Choe mentioned a specific country in relation to hegemonism and unilateralism, these messages are analyzed as being effectively aimed at the United States.

Choe arrived in Beijing the previous day at the invitation of Wang and is scheduled to stay for four days until the 30th.

She previously accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to China from the 1st to the 5th, where he attended the 80th-anniversary military parade for China's Victory Day and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This visit to Beijing, coming just about three weeks later, marks Choe's first solo visit to China since she took office as Foreign Minister in June 2022. It is also her first face-to-face meeting with the Chinese foreign policy chief.

Given that North Korea is preparing for a large-scale military parade for the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party next month (October 10), and the high likelihood of a visit to North Korea by a high-ranking Chinese official, observers suggest that issues such as a potential visit to North Korea by President Xi may have been discussed during the meeting.

Furthermore, as the U.S. and Chinese leaders are expected to meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju late next month, speculation has arisen that North Korea and China might have coordinated on Korean Peninsula issues. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry only stated that "the two sides exchanged in-depth views on issues of common concern" and did not disclose specific details of the discussions.

Yonhap News Agency