China and Russia send congratulatory telegrams on North Korea's National Day - appeals for closer ties, but differences in closeness between China and Russia

North Korea celebrated its 76th National Foundation Day on the 9th of this month. A celebration was held the day before at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital, Pyongyang.
According to the Korea Times, the leaders of China and Russia sent congratulatory telegrams to Kim Jong Eun on the anniversary.
The Yonhap News Agency pointed out that this was the first time that Chinese President Xi Jinping had sent a congratulatory telegram to Kim Jong Un since January 1 of this year. "While North Korea and Russia have grown closer since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, China and North Korea have grown estranged.
On September 9, 1948, North Korea launched a regime with the late Kim Il Sung, grandfather of General Secretary Kim Jung Eun, as prime minister. This day is known as the "Korean Democratic
Every year on this day, various commemorative events are held, creating a celebratory atmosphere. This year, too, many citizens and soldiers gathered at Mansudae Hill in Pyongyang to celebrate the founding of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
Flowers were laid at the statue. On the 8th, a celebration event was held at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. This year, a delegation from the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and students from Korea University also attended.
Speaking at the celebration event, Prime Minister Kim Deok-hoon said, "Let's fight vigorously, following the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un." However, Kim's attendance was not confirmed.
Also on this day, senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea and the military paid tribute to the late General Secretary Kim Jong Il, father of General Secretary Kim Jong Eun.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Prime Minister Kim Deok-hun, Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Choe Ryong-hae, Party President Ri Byung-chol and other senior officials of the party, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the body is laid to rest.
Vice-chairs of the Central Military Commission and others reportedly visited the palace and offered flowers, but Kim Jong Un is not believed to have even visited the palace.
According to sources including the Rodong Sinmun, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met to mark the anniversary of the country's founding.
President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China sent a congratulatory telegram to Kim. President Putin said, "I am confident that through our joint efforts, our comprehensive strategic partnership will be strengthened in a planned manner."
President Putin visited North Korea as a state guest in June this year. It was his first visit to North Korea in 24 years since July 2000. He held a summit with Chairman Kim, and the two leaders discussed economic and
The two sides signed a treaty on strategic partnership, which includes cooperation in the field of security. Meanwhile, President Xi, referring to the fact that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and North Korea, said, "We will deepen strategic communication and
"We are ready to bring greater benefits to the people of our two countries and make greater contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world," he said.
North Korea reported this through state media, in a move to highlight its close ties with China and Russia.
He noted that while President Putin has exchanged congratulatory telegrams with Kim several times over the past year, President Xi has only sent congratulatory telegrams to Kim twice this year.
The close relationship between Kim and Putin is remarkable, with Russia-North Korea summits held twice in the past year, in September last year and June this year. Meanwhile, the China-North Korea summit was held in June 2019.
It has not been held since then. As Russia and North Korea deepen their ties, the gap between China and North Korea seems to be widening. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and North Korea. In April, Kim Jong Un, the third-highest ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party, visited North Korea.
He met with Zhao Luozhi, a former North Korean leader, and expressed his desire to further develop Sino-North Korean relations. For North Korea, relations with China, a traditional friendly country, are also important. Meanwhile, China is keen to maintain a reasonable distance from North Korea.
When the Russia-North Korea summit was held in June, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry merely stated that the summit was a bilateral exchange between Russia and North Korea.
According to the THA news agency article, Tong Zhao, a Beijing-based researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who studies Chinese security and foreign policy, told the agency, "China is
China is also careful to avoid being perceived as a de facto alliance between itself, Russia and North Korea.
"This is because it would be an obstacle to maintaining realistic cooperation," he explained. President Xi sent a congratulatory telegram to Kim Jong Un for the first time in about nine months since January 1, but he is also considering sending a congratulatory telegram to Kim Jong Un this year, which marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and North Korea.
There has been no information about a meeting with him.