Chinese President Xi Jiping Congratulates Kim Jong-un on the Promotion

At the first congress of the ruling Working Party in 36 years, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was elected to the role of party chairman. And Chinese President Xi Jiping just called to say congrats.

The Chinese leader’s missive, according to KCNA Watch, read in part: “I received with pleasure news that Comrade Kim Jong Un was elected chairman of the WPK at its 7th Congress.”

Xi “extend[ed] warm congratulations” to Kim and affirmed the importance of the friendship between China and North Korea.

Although Shanghaiist’s Alex Linder notes that the relationship has been a rocky one of late, writing:

Beijing seems to have grown increasingly annoyed by North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. In March, China backed a UN resolution mandating new international sanctions against North Korea, following its fourth nuclear test in January.

In line with the sanctions, China banned imports of coal, iron, gold and titanium from North Korea, as well as restricting the export of jet fuel and other oil products necessary to make rocket fuel.

In response, Kim labelled North Korea’s strongest ally as a “detested enemy.” A government document that is believed to have been distributed to the masses, also called for all North Koreans to “crush China’s pressuring schemes with the force of a nuclear storm.”

[h/t Shanghaiist]

[images via wikicommons]

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