No Chinese Officials Invited to Anniversary of Kim Jong-il's Death

No Chinese dignitaries have been invited to attend a ceremony next week marking the third anniversary of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's death, the Voice of Russia reported Thursday.

It said this was "evidence of worsening relations between North Korea and China."

A diplomatic source in Beijing said, "There is the chance of North Korea sending an invitation at the last minute, but China will not send officials to Pyongyang without an invitation."

The last Chinese official to visit the North was Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin in February this year.

Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao reported rumors that Beijing has given up on supporting North Korea and the North has been warned that China's unquestioning loyalty has come to an end.

Wang Hongguang, a former senior Chinese general, earlier wrote in the official Global Times, "China is not a savior. Should North Korea really collapse, not even China can save it."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is widely expected to use the anniversary to announce his latest plans for the isolated country.

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