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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Sunday visited the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang surrounded by a bevy of high-ranking officials. There he joined Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming and embassy staff in celebrating the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival on the first full moon of Lunar New Year, according to the website of China¡¯s official People¡¯s Daily on Monday.
Kim was accompanied by Vice Minister of the Armed Forces Kim Jong-gak, Workers' Party Secretary Kim Ki-nam, First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok-ju and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong-il. The North Korean leader expressed his best wishes to the Chinese government and people, it said. Ambassador Liu delivered Chinese President Hu Jintao¡¯s greetings to Kim Jong-il.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il chats with Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Liu Xiaoming at the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang on Sunday.
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Pyongyang recently threw a series of parties for Chinese embassy officials. In an unusual move, the Workers¡¯ Party invited embassy officials to a dinner at the Baekhwawon State Guest House on Feb. 18.
It also treated Chinese diplomats, reporters, businesspeople and students in North Korea to a patriotic show entitled ¡°The Blue Sky of My Nation¡± on the same day. On Feb. 7, the Party¡¯s international affairs division held a party for Chinese embassy officials to celebrate the spring. On Jan. 23, the North Korean Foreign Ministry invited all Chinese Embassy staff to a New Year¡¯s party at the Kobangsan Hotel.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il poses with Chinese Embassy staffers.
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Diplomatic circles in Beijing regard North Korea¡¯s lavish generosity to its officials in Pyongyang as an expression of satisfaction and gratitude for China¡¯s role in brokering the six-way nuclear talks agreement on Feb. 13 that promises energy and economic rewards if North Korea shuts down its nuclear facilities.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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