Kim Jong-un pays respect at the grave of Chinese Volunteer Army Martyrs, Prompts Deep Reaction on Weibo
In a deeply symbolic act, Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, paid homage at the Huicang Martyrs' Cemetery of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and laid flowers at the tomb of Mao Anying, reported by the Korean Central News Agency on July 26.
26 July 2023
The tribute by the North Korean leader comes on the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, which was fought between the United Nations forces led by the United States and the communist armies of North Korea and China.
Mao Anying, the son of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, served in the Chinese People's Volunteer Army during the Korean War and was killed in action in 1950. His gravesite has become a symbolic touchstone for Chinese-Korean camaraderie.
The event, documented in videos shared on Weibo by the People's Daily and the Communist Youth League of Fujian Province, showed Kim flanked by a guard of honor from the Korean People's Army, standing solemnly during the playing of the national anthems of the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Reactions to Kim's visit were diverse on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo, where this news promptly became a trending topic.
Many Weibo users commended Kim's act as a reaffirmation of the historical ties between China and North Korea, their intertwined histories rooted in the shared sacrifice during the Korean War. They hailed it as a gesture of diplomacy that reflects the continued friendship between the two nations.
"It's an act that pays homage not just to the martyrs of the war, but to the enduring spirit of Chinese-Korean solidarity," one user noted.
Others saw the tribute as an act of political symbolism. One Weibo user wrote: "This is not just about remembering the past, it's about the future. Kim Jong-un is making a clear statement of alignment with China in an increasingly complex geopolitical scenario."
Some commentators were more critical, however. They raised questions about North Korea's reliance on China for economic and diplomatic support, particularly amid the continued international pressure over its nuclear program.
The unexpected visit highlights the intricate ties between North Korea and China - a relationship that has often been characterized as being as close as "lips and teeth". The event serves as a timely reminder of their shared history and the deep-rooted connections that continue to influence the geopolitical landscape of the region.
Overall, the visit seemed to inspire a mix of nostalgia, pride, speculation, and critique among Chinese netizens, revealing the multifaceted perception of the North Korean leader's actions and the nuanced views of the China-North Korea relationship.
In conclusion, the impact of Kim Jong-un's tribute resonated deeply on Weibo, illustrating the potent mixture of history, nationalism, and geopolitics that continues to shape the relationship between China and North Korea.