Chinese President Xi Jinping has told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that the two countries should step up communication amid heightened tensions between the North and the South. Jiping had indicated that will push for a "higher stage" of relations with a long-time treaty ally. While relations between the two nations have fluctuated over the years, the breakdown of talks between the US and North Korea has spurred both sides to strengthen their alliance, an AFP report reads.
In a recent message to Kim, Xi stressed the “traditional friendship” between China and North Korea had “weathered the trials of the changed international situation for a long time, constantly maintained the trend of its development and got stronger with the passage of time”.
“The international and regional situations are now changing seriously and in a complicated way,” Xi told Kim, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
“I am willing to strengthen strategic communication with Comrade General Secretary [Kim], jointly lead the direction of development of China-DPRK relations, and promote friendly cooperation between the two sides to a higher level,” the message said, SCMP reported.
Earlier, G7 foreign ministers warned of a 'robust' response if North Korea did not "refrain" from further nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches.
On Friday, North Korea conducted its 11th missile test of this year so far-- firing a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.
