0
Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun visited Deokcheon, South Pyongan Province, on June 16 to pay respects at the Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs Cemetery, the Chinese Embassy in North Korea announced on June 17 through the social media platform Weixin. / Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea Weixin

According to the official account of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea on the social media platform Weixin on June 17, Ambassador Wang Yajun visited Deokcheon, South Pyongan Province, the previous day to pay respects at the Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs Cemetery.

Embassy staff, overseas Chinese, and representatives of businesses and media partook in the itinerary. From the North Korean side, Yoon Sung-il, section chief of the First Asian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kim Jong-o, director of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the South Pyongan Province People's Committee, and Seok Kyung-hye, head of the Culture Department of the Deokcheon People's Committee, accompanied the delegation. Ambassador Wang and his party paid tribute to the fallen soldiers at the cemetery by singing the national anthem of China and presenting flower baskets.

Following the visit, Ambassador Wang stated, "Not long ago, General Secretary Xi Jinping made a historic state visit to Joseon (North Korea) and reached a series of new and important agreements with General Secretary Kim Jong-un regarding the development of China-North Korea relations," adding, "They agreed on the need to carry forward the great spirit of Resisting US Aggression and Aiding Korea, and to hand down the great traditional friendship between China and North Korea from generation to generation."

He also urged, "Under the new era and situation, we must faithfully implement the important agreements reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, and properly inherit and develop the blood-cemented traditional friendship between China and North Korea to create a happier and more beautiful life for the people of both nations."

The Deokcheon Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs Cemetery, which Ambassador Wang visited on the day, was established in October 1974. It is known to be a burial ground where several nearby martyrs' cemeteries were relocated and combined. A total of 574 fallen Chinese soldiers are interred in the cemetery. Among them, 452 are unknown soldiers, according to the embassy.

                                                                                                          Hong Soon-do