Kim Jong Un (2nd L) sent a message congratulating Xi Jinping (R) on his election as Chinese President on 14 March 2013. Xi is seen shaking hands with his predecessor Hu Jintao (2nd R) at the National People’s Congres in Beijing) (Photos: KCNA file photo, Xinhua News Agency)
DPRK state media reported on 14 March (Thursday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) sent a congratulatory message to Xi Jinping, following Xi’s election as Chinese President after the PRC held its National People’s Congress. According to KCNA the message from KJU to Xi said:
I would like to send warm congratulations to you on your election as president of the People’s Republic of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the PRC at the first session of the 12th National People’s Congress of the PRC.
Your assumption of the heavy responsibility as the state leader is an expression of the Chinese people and army’s deep respect and trust in you.
It is my hope that the Chinese people will register greater successes in building a comprehensively well-off socialist society in all fields under the leadership of the CPC with you as general secretary.
It is the consistent stand of our party and the DPRK government to value and consolidate and develop the DPRK-China friendship.
I wish you success in your responsible work in the belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and China will grow strong steadily and successfully thanks to the common efforts of the two sides.
The message was the first reported public communication between DPRK and Chinese officials since mid-December. Some analysts have misinterpreted Chinese support for United Nations Security Council responses to the DPRK’s 12 December 2012 launch of the U’nha-3 rocket and 12 February 2013 nuclear, along with the cranky cries of various Chinese academics, as an insurmountable cleavage between the DPRK and China. These analyses conveniently ignore that senior officials in Pyongyang and Beijing routinely communicate with one another sans public activity or media reporting. When Xi Jinping was elected PRC Vice President in 2008 and designated successor to outgoing PRC President Hu Jintao in 2008, the DPRK was the first stop on Xi’s five-nation goodwill tour. Xi met late leader Kim Jong Il, in a rather sunny mood that day, on 18 June 2008
Filed under: 2013 Strategic Rhetoric, Central Committee, Central Military Committee, DPRK Cabinet, DPRK External Relations, DPRK-China Relations, DPRK-PRC Border, International Department, Jang Song-thaek, Kim Family, Kim Jong-un, KJI Personal Secretariat, Korean People's Army (KPA), Korean Workers' Party (KWP), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Defense Commission (NDC), North Korean press, Political Bureau, Secretariat, Third Floor
