During Beijing’s September 3rd military parade, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin discussed immortality and organ transplants, shocking the public. (Screenshot from NTD video)
[People News] Shortly after Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping completed his two-day state visit to North Korea on June 12, which is celebrated as Russia Day, the Russian news agency released the congratulatory message sent by North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to Russian President Vladimir Putin on that day. It is reported that the message was delivered the day prior by the North Korean ambassador to Russia. Last year, Kim Jong-un also sent a congratulatory message, and the Russian news agency published the full text on the 12th.
Interestingly, this year, the Russian news agency did not publish the entire congratulatory message but instead included ellipses after certain phrases.
The text of the congratulatory message released by the Russian news agency states: "My unwavering will and position is to consistently support Moscow's domestic and foreign policies and to always stand with the Russian Federation... I wish... you new significant achievements in your important work." Additionally, it expresses, "I wish the brotherly Russian people continuous success and victory."
According to the Russian news agency, the main message conveyed by Kim Jong-un's congratulatory note is that North Korea will always support Russia's domestic and foreign policies and hopes that Putin will achieve new results in his work.
So, what did the Russian news agency intentionally leave out? Reports from South Korean media indicate that the omitted portions of the congratulatory message included Kim Jong-un referring to Putin as "my dear friend" and stating, "Today, the relationship between North Korea and Russia has opened a new historical chapter, further strengthening the sincere and dedicated comrade trust and alliance relationship," and that "(this is) a proud achievement obtained in accordance with the obligations and just ideals of the two countries loyal to the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty."
In other words, Kim Jong-un has expressed satisfaction with the achievements in the North Korea-Russia relationship and hopes to further strengthen the alliance.
So, why does the Russian news agency choose to downplay this? The author speculates that it is likely to avoid displeasing Beijing. According to state media from the Chinese Communist Party, while Kim Jong-un warmly welcomed Xi Jinping during his visit to North Korea, his expressions towards Xi were not as affectionate or firm.
Overall, it seems that during his talks with Xi, Kim Jong-un adopted an 'equal footing' approach, stating, 'After my meeting with Xi in Beijing last September, the relationship between our two countries has been actively developing in various fields... I sincerely thank Xi Jinping for the important opinions he proposed regarding the development of China-North Korea relations in the new era,' and 'The North Korean side is pleased to see... We will always firmly adhere to the One China principle and resolutely support China's policies and positions in safeguarding its core interests... Strengthening and developing the friendship between North Korea and China in the new era is the choice of the people, the need of the times, and represents our unchanging strategic choice and unwavering strategic will.'
It is clear that Kim Jong-un's words reflect a sense of distance. While his demeanour is warm, he remains internally vigilant. In fact, the three generations of Kim family leaders have historically been very distrustful of the Chinese Communist Party, which stems from the CCP's long-standing practice of providing economic aid while making North Korea handle the dirty work, as well as the CCP's inconsistency. It is highly likely that Kim Jong-un felt a certain level of trust during his interactions with Putin, which explains his statements.
Such a statement, made just after Xi Jinping's departure from North Korea, seems to contradict the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In light of this, the CCP, which is currently embroiled in intense internal power struggles, is likely to remain unresponsive. After all, allowing Kim Jong-un to enjoy some verbal sparring and bask in the spotlight is not a major concern, as both North Korea and Russia still rely on China's economic support. This consideration also explains why Russian media did not publish the full text of Kim Jong-un's congratulatory message.
Based on Kim Jong-un's recent actions, some analysts suggest that he has officially set the tone for 'Security with Russia and Economic Cooperation with China.' However, can the military strength displayed by Russia during the Russia-Ukraine war genuinely ensure North Korea's security? If unexpected changes were to occur in either Russia or China, what choices would Kim Jong-un make?
(First published by People News) △
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