North Korea's Kim Jong-un characterizes China as 'old enemy'

There are signs of instability in relations between China and North Korea. South Korean media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un characterized China as an "archenemy" in a speech. Previously, North Korea did not send a delegation to attend the celebration of the 97th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

According to South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo, citing multiple North Korean sources, Kim Jong-un recently called China, which has increased pressure on North Korea, an "old enemy." The specific background and target of Kim Jong-un's remarks have not yet been confirmed, but they may be intended to express protests against China. Kim Jong-un's remarks are systematically circulated within the North Korean party and military organizations and can serve as a course of action. In July this year, Kim Jong-un even instructed North Korean diplomats in China not to "look at China's face."

According to reports, the Chinese government has recently taken high-intensity measures against North Korea, including strengthening controls on North Korean smuggling and even seizing items used by Kim Jong-un personally and refusing to return them. North Korea has recently made no secret of its dissatisfaction with China. One example is that North Korea did not send a delegation to attend China's official celebrations. On July 31 this year, the Chinese Ministry of Defense held a reception for the 97th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and sent invitations to all military attaché groups in China, including North Korea and South Korea, but the North Korean military attaché in China did not attend.