Kim Jong Un Visits Memorial Hall of War to Resist U.S. Aggression in Dandong with Wang Huning; China Cites Strategic Ties, DPRK Hails "Invincible Friendship

Seoul

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un visited Dandong in Liaoning Province, China, on Oct. 24 and paid tribute at the Memorial Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. In a statement posted at 7:30 p.m. on the 24th (Beijing time, 8:30 p.m. Korea time), China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), accompanied Kim. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the visit on the 25th. In both documents, the purpose of Kim's visit was identical: commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' participation in the Korean War. Neither document mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping appearing in Dandong. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Chairman Wang Huning told both sides that they must "strengthen strategic communication and cooperation to create a peaceful and stable external environment to safeguard their respective sovereignty, security, and development." This sentence does not appear in the KCNA report.

Chairman Kim Jong Un Received by Chairman Wang Huning on Morning of 24th at Square of Memorial Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea

Aligning the Chinese Foreign Ministry post with the KCNA report, the schedule on the morning of the 24th was as follows: Chairman Wang Huning received Chairman Kim at the square of the Memorial Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. KCNA reported that children presented bouquets and many children waved the national flags of North Korea and China to welcome him. A basket-laying ceremony at the monument to the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea followed as the national anthems of both nations were played. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Kim personally adjusted the ribbons on the flower basket, which read in Korean, "The martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers will be remembered forever." KCNA also reported that the same inscription was engraved, with Kim's official title added at the end of the text.

KCNA listed the accompanying and receiving officials by name. From the North Korean side, Jo Yong Won, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and secretary of the Party Central Committee; Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui; Party Central Committee Secretaries Ri Il Hwan and Kim Song Nam; First Vice Premier of the Cabinet Kim Tok Hun; Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Party Central Committee; Kim Jae Ryong, first vice department director of the Party Central Committee; and Ri Ryong Nam, North Korean ambassador to China, accompanied him. On the Chinese side, Chairman Wang Huning was on site, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi; Liu Haixing, minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu; He Kunlin, party secretary of Liaoning Province; Zhang Bing, party secretary of Dandong City; and Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to North Korea, received him. The Chinese Foreign Ministry statement only noted that Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the event.

Chairman Kim Jong Un Mentions "Precious Verification in Blood of Invincible DPRK-China Friendship" at Memorial Hall

According to KCNA, Kim toured the memorial hall guided by Chairman Wang Huning. After viewing the exhibition materials, Kim said, "The Memorial Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea is a precious verification in blood of the invincible DPRK-China friendship." The agency reported that Kim affirmed "the determination of our Party, our government, and our people to forever remember and forever uphold the glorious history of overcoming ordeals together, and to forever firmly inherit down through generations the invincible DPRK-China friendship forged in blood." In front of the monument, he reportedly said, "Our people will forever remember the glorious years fought alongside the Chinese people and will pass down generation after generation our eternal gratitude to the Chinese people who aided our revolution with their blood."

To commemorate his visit to the memorial hall, Kim presented a commemorative plate featuring a photographic record of President Kim Il Sung, inscribed with his personal calligraphy. The handwritten inscription reported by KCNA read: "Within the canvas of great history beats the righteous soul and spirit that defended peace. Reverently remembering the footsteps of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers who linked the boundaries of the two countries into a single vein, I extend eternal gratitude and respect. Kim Jong Un, 2026.10.24" The Chinese Foreign Ministry described the same gift as an "historical photograph with an autographed signature."

Chairman Wang Huning Highlights "China-DPRK Friendship Forged in Blood" in Talks, Proposes Utilizing Opening of New Yalu River Bridge

Following their visit to the memorial hall, the two held talks, which the Chinese Foreign Ministry described at the greatest length. Chairman Wang Huning said that Kim's visit to Dandong on the 76th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' entry into the war "fully demonstrates how deeply the party and government of North Korea value the China-DPRK friendship forged in blood." He noted that in September of last year and June of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un conducted "historic mutual visits" and reached "a series of important common understandings." He added that China is "ready to unswervingly implement" the important consensus reached by the top leaders of both parties and countries.

In the same talks, Chairman Wang Huning said that the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge connecting China and North Korea could be "taken as an opportunity to expand personnel exchanges and trade cooperation." He went on to say that both sides should "strengthen strategic communication and cooperation to create a peaceful and stable external environment to safeguard their respective sovereignty, security, and development." In the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, this remark appeared without singling out specific nations or issues.

Chairman Wang Huning's remarks as reported by KCNA were brief. According to the agency, Chairman Wang conveyed greetings and best wishes from General Secretary Xi Jinping to Kim, stating that Kim's visit to Dandong and the memorial hall on the 76th anniversary of the participation in the war holds "very significant importance" for carrying forward and developing the traditional China-DPRK friendship and militant camaraderie. The agency also reported that the banquet that day was hosted by Chairman Wang Huning "in accordance with special instructions from Comrade Xi Jinping."

Chairman Kim Jong Un Expresses Thanks to General Secretary Xi Jinping, Mentions China's "High International Prestige"

The two documents also reported Kim's remarks differently. According to KCNA, Kim said: "It is a proper duty and obligation to reverently remember the great years and history at the departure point of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers. I express my gratitude to the respected Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping, who paid special and meticulous attention to our visit today." Kim also reportedly expressed his appreciation for the hospitality extended by Dandong City and Liaoning Province. The agency reported that Kim said China's "high international prestige and dignity" are the "due outcome" achieved by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core, and that the "remarkable achievements" being attained in the socialist camp inspire the struggle of the North Korean people.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry wrote that Kim asked him to convey greetings and best wishes to General Secretary Xi Jinping and "wished success to the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China." In the Foreign Ministry post, Kim said this trip to Dandong was "a special visit to pay tribute and express heartfelt thanks to the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers who laid down their lives at a critical historical moment to aid North Korea." He was also quoted as saying that General Secretary Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea in June this year was a "milestone" in the development of bilateral ties, and that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and North Korea. The document stated that Kim said he would "expand practical cooperation to bring tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries." The KCNA report did not mention wishing success to the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, the 65th anniversary of the treaty, or expanding practical cooperation.

Chairman Kim Jong Un Inspects Dandong Bus and Car Factory on Afternoon of 24th, Returns via Yalu River Bridge

The afternoon itinerary was also described with different names in the two documents. KCNA reported that Kim inspected the "Dandong Bus Factory," where he was received by factory officials and welcomed by workers. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Chairman Wang Huning and Kim visited a "car factory" in Dandong, where they toured production workshops and were briefed. The agency reported that Kim said, "I wish greater success to the factory, which possesses a wonderful history and potential." It cannot be determined from the documents alone whether the two accounts refer to the same facility.

The return route was the same in both documents. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Chairman Wang Huning saw Kim off at the New Yalu River Bridge. KCNA reported that Kim set off on his return trip via the "DPRK-China Yalu River Bridge," with Chairman Wang Huning and Chinese leading officials accompanying him to the midpoint of the bridge. According to the agency, Kim looked out at the panoramic view from the midpoint of the newly completed bridge and expressed his expectation that "this bridge will undoubtedly and accurately fulfill its historic mission of linking the two countries and binding our hearts even more firmly." Kim took a commemorative photograph with Chairman Wang Huning on the bridge and exchanged farewells with Chinese officials. The agency concluded by stating that this visit "will be recorded in history as a significant occasion that clearly demonstrated the unchanging and invincible nature of DPRK-China friendship and unity."

Discrepancies Between the Two Documents

Passages appearing only in the KCNA report include the full text of Kim's handwritten inscription, the banquet arranged under General Secretary Xi Jinping's "special instructions," the names and titles of the visiting and receiving delegations, and the mention of China's "high international prestige." Passages appearing only in the Chinese Foreign Ministry post include Chairman Wang Huning's call to "strengthen strategic communication and cooperation," the proposal to use the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge as an opportunity to expand personnel exchanges and trade, wishes for the success of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, and mention of the 65th anniversary of the treaty. Neither document reported a separate meeting between General Secretary Xi Jinping and Kim. The Chinese Foreign Ministry noted that Chairman Wang Huning delivered greetings from General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Neither document contained remarks directly singling out the South Korean government or the United States. However, "U.S." is included in the name of the memorial hall. "Hangmiwonjo" means "resisting American aggression and aiding Korea," and the Chinese Foreign Ministry's English post rendered the site as the "Memorial Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea." KCNA introduced the memorial hall as a monument to DPRK-China friendship forged amid the "bloody struggle against imperialist aggression."

Sources (KST)

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, "Wang Huning Accompanies DPRK Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un on Visit to Dandong," 2026-10-24 19:30 (Beijing time): https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xw/zyxw/202610/t20261025_12046447.html
• Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Dandong City, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China," 2026-10-25: http://www.kcna.kp/kp/article/detail/922c67bdd9f34fe580d343563b85a42e