China urges cooperation, unity with North Korea 

China has called for enhanced communication, unity and cooperation with North Korea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made the call in a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ahead of a historic congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

The letter is in response to congratulations Kim sent for the congress, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday.

Xi expressed willingness to strengthen the relationship between China and North Korea, and “make a great contribution to providing two countries and their people with greater happiness and defending peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world,” North Korea state news agency KCNA said.

Xi is poised to win a third five-year term as General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party, the most powerful job in the country, at the congress.

Also Read:North Korea to prepare for ‘dialogue and confrontation’ with US, Kim says 

The reported expression of support comes as North Korea has tested a record number of ballistic missiles and has made preparations to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017.

North Korea says its latest military activities, which have also included artillery drills and flights by warplanes, are in response to displays of force by South Korea and the United States, which have staged their own military drills to protest the North’s tests.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has called on all parties to prevent the situation from escalating and work towards creating the conditions for resuming dialogue.

Zainab Sa’id