Kim Jong-un Sends Wreath to Chinese Veterans Cemetery

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday sent a wreath to a cemetery of Chinese soldiers who were killed during the Korean War, state media said.

The wreath marking the 62nd anniversary of the armistice was placed at the cemetery in South Pyongan Province.

Earlier, in a speech at an event for war veterans in Pyongyang last week, Kim expressed his respect for the sacrifice of Chinese soldiers who supported the North Korean army during the war.

It was the first time in two years that Kim sent a wreath to the cemetery and comes after a period of chilly relations between the allies.

In July 2013, Kim went to lay the wreath himself, but last year he did not even send a wreath, making the matter a fine gauge of the state of bilateral ties for some pundits.

Buried among the Chinese soldiers is Mao Anying, the eldest son of Mao Zedong. Chinese media took a keen interest in Kim's wreath.

The website China.com speculated that it represented "a meaningful message" to the Chinese leadership.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the city of Shenyang in the wake of his trip to the Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture and Jilin on July 16-18.

Xi reportedly told officials to push harder for the opening of Liaoning Province to outside, suggesting that there is a mutual exchange of symbolic gestures taking place.

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