Seoul: North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui is set to visit China from September 27 to 30, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations. China's foreign ministry announced the visit on Thursday, noting it comes just weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a military parade in Beijing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the visit is at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and will last four days, running from Saturday to next Tuesday. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson at China's foreign ministry, confirmed the details of the visit. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency also reported Choe's impending visit, describing it as happening "soon."
The timing of Choe's visit aligns with North Korea's preparations for a large-scale military parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on October 10. It is reported that North Korea is extending invitations to state leaders to attend the event, adding further political significance to the occasion.
Choe's visit follows Kim Jong-un's prominent participation in China's military parade in Beijing on September 3, followed by discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During Kim's recent trip to China, Choe was part of the North Korean delegation, highlighting her integral role in diplomatic relations with China.
As North Korea gears up for its significant political event, there is growing curiosity about whether Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the North Korean military parade, reciprocating Kim Jong-un's recent visit. This potential development is being watched closely ahead of the Workers' Party's founding celebration.