North Korean official Kim Song-nam concluded a five-day high-level visit to China on November 7, 2026, meeting with senior Chinese leaders just ten days after Kim Jong Un crossed the border into Dandong, yna.co.kr reported.
The delegation’s trip followed Kim Jong Un’s surprise visit to China via the New Yalu River Bridge. Kim Song-nam, International Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, traveled to China at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee.
During the five-day itinerary, Kim met with several top Chinese officials to discuss bilateral ties. According to yonhapnewstv.co.kr, he held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Cai Qi, who ranks fifth in the Politburo Standing Committee, and Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the CCP Central Committee.
Both sides reaffirmed their mutual support for foreign policies and emphasized what they termed the three unchangeable principles. These principles center on China's commitment to prioritizing bilateral friendship regardless of changes in international relations, as reported by yna.co.kr.
Analysts suggest the extended meetings were timed to coordinate strategy ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen. Park Byong-gwang, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, noted that visits by party international directors traditionally signal preparations for top leader visits.
According to yonhapnewstv.co.kr, Park stated, “When the international department director of the Chinese party goes to North Korea or the international department director of the Workers’ Party goes to China, it is usually done when preparing for a visit by the top leaders of the two countries.”
Observers indicate the meetings may lay the groundwork for a potential visit by Kim Jong Un to China during or after the Shenzhen APEC summit. As North Korea aligns its diplomatic steps closely with Russia and China, regional watchers are monitoring how Pyongyang will project its influence during the upcoming diplomatic events.
Kim Song-nam serves as the International Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea. He accompanied Kim Jong Un at the June North Korea-China summit in Pyongyang and at China’s 80th anniversary victory parade last September, and is regarded as North Korea’s “China expert.”
The three unchangeable principles refer to bilateral understandings emphasizing that China values its friendship with North Korea regardless of shifting global dynamics. Both nations reiterated this stance during the November 2026 high-level meetings.
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