A banquet commemorating the 64th anniversary of the North Korea-China Friendship Treaty was held in Pyongyang on July 9 / Photo courtesy of the Embassy of China, Pyongyang

Recent banquets in North Korea and China celebrating the signing of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) indicate a gradual warming of relations between the two nations, which had cooled last year.

North Korea's state-run newspaper, <em>Rodong Sinmun</em>, reported on Sunday that the North Korean embassy in China hosted a commemorative banquet on July 10, marking the 64th anniversary of the treaty's signing.

The event was attended by Wang Dongming, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, along with officials from various Chinese government departments, including the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Commerce, and Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

This year's attendance by the Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress marks an upgrade from last year, when He Ping, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, was the highest-ranking official present.

Before this, on July 9, the Chinese embassy in North Korea also held a banquet to commemorate the treaty's anniversary. Concurrently, a similar event took place at the Chinese consulate in Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province.

The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, signed by North Korea and China on July 11, 1961, includes a clause for automatic military intervention if either country faces aggression from allied nations. Both countries have consistently held annual commemorative banquets since their signing.

Traditionally, North Korea's representation at these events has been at the level of the Vice Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, equivalent to South Korea's National Assembly. However, last year saw a slight downgrade with the attendance of Kim Seung-chan, president of Kim Il-sung University and chair of the Korea-China Friendship Parliamentary Group.

Beyond these ceremonial banquets, there are indications of renewed efforts to strengthen North Korea-China ties.

On July 11, <em>Rodong Sinmun</em> published an article titled "Strengthening the Korea-China Friendship and Cooperative Relationship on the Path of Socialism." The piece emphasized the treaty's role as a crucial milestone in enhancing strategic cooperation between the two nations and as a driving force in their joint pursuit of socialism.

In light of these developments, the South Korean government is closely monitoring shifts in North Korea-China relations.

During a regular press briefing on July 11, Jang Yoon Jung, Deputy Spokesperson for South Korea's Ministry of Unification, noted subtle changes in North Korean media reports compared to last year. She suggested that these changes indicate North Korea's efforts to improve relations with China, emphasizing the need for continued close observation of North Korea-China dynamics.

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