Chinese Pres. Tacitly OKs NK Succession Process

Chinese President Hu Jintao has pledged to reinforce bilateral ties with North Korea’s new leadership elected in last week’s convention of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, Hu said, “The Chinese Communist Party will reinforce communication and cooperation with (North Korea’s) new leadership in international and regional affairs” to a delegation of ranking North Korean officials led by Choe Tae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, at the People’s Assembly Hall in Beijing Saturday morning.

Hu said, “I congratulate (North Korea) on the successful hosting of the Workers’ Party convention and the re-election of Kim Jong Il as the party’s general secretary,” adding, “The victory at the convention was a major political event to the (North Korean) party and the people.”

“We confidently believe that (North Korea’s) political party, government and people will open a new chapter in building the nation, and generate achievements in the effort to create a powerful and large nation under the leadership of the Workers’ Party’s Central Committee led by general secretary Kim Jong Il.”

Hu said, “The Chinese Communist Party highly values our bilateral relationship and hopes that it is in the same position as the new leadership of the Workers’ Party,” adding, “Let us inherit tradition, reinforce the spirit of cooperation toward the future as good neighbors, and redouble efforts to expand exchanges and cooperation in diverse fields.”

“Let us reinforce communication and cooperation and thus join forces to promote peace, security and co-development in the region.”

In response, Choe said, “The fact that General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent the delegation of ranking officials to China soon after the party convention attests to the high value we place on ties with Beijing.”

“Through the convention, the (North) Korean people have laid a solid foundation of completing the revolution started by Dear Leader Kim Il Sung, and for its inheritance for generations to come.”

On this development, experts in South Korea say Hu effectively supported Pyongyang’s transfer of power from Kim Jong Il to his youngest son Jong Un.

Suh Jin-young, professor emeritus at Korea University in Seoul who chairs a joint committee of experts on the development of South Korea-China ties, said, “If we actively interpret Hu’s comments, it can be understood that he has approved the North’s power succession plan, and if we passively interpret what he said, he has accepted North Korea’s new leadership.”

mungchii@donga.com