북한 김정은, 시진핑에 구두친서…"코로나 전쟁 승기 축하"

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reached out to Chinese President Xi Jinping in an apparant move to normalize trade ties... following the North's isolation to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Kim Ji-yeon reports.
It appears North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has rolled up his sleeves to rebuild ties with its biggest economic ally China, after those ties were severed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The North's state run Korean Central News Agency reported Friday that Kim has sent a "verbal message" to Chinese President Xi Jinping... lauding Beijing's success in containing the spread of the virus.
The report, without specifying how and when the message was delivered, stated that Kim had congratulated the Chinese leader, saying he is seizing a chance of victory in the war against the unprecedented epidemic.
In February, Kim Jong-un had sent a message to President Xi regarding the coronavirus... and then sent financial aid under the name of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party.
The timing of the recent message by North Korea comes as the country tries to normalize its economy... and it shows the regime may not be able to do that without normalizing its ties with China.
"North Korea had tried to build a massive tourism industry with Chinese tourists, which has been halted due to the outbreak. Through the message, Kim is trying to revive economic ties with China, which have been almost completely at a standstill for the past four months."
This goes in line with Kim Jong-un's attendance at a ceremony earlier this month to celebrate the completion of a fertilizer factory in Sunchon... which the North touted as the first key outcome of its drive towards so-called "frontal breakthrough" aimed at developing its economy crippled by international sanctions.
In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China wants to keep developing its relationship with North Korea... and that they've been in close contact in the fight against COVID-19.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.