High-level China delegation in North Korea for armistice celebration
Chinese vice-president joins North Korean leader for celebration, but analysts say Beijing won't let Pyongyang jeopardise regional peace
North Korea celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Korean war armistice yesterday with a massive military parade attended by a high-level delegation from its most important ally, China.
Leader Kim Jong-un was joined by Vice-President Li Yuanchao on the podium overlooking Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square to inspect tanks, mobile missile launchers and goose-stepping soldiers.
A smiling Li stood next to Kim during the two-hour parade, making friendly exchanges through an interpreter. Analysts said the appearance of Li and other top Chinese officials was intended to send a political message that Beijing would not give up its long-time alliance with North Korea.
A day earlier, Kim greeted Li with a warm hug before a meeting in which the vice-president reiterated Beijing's goal to remove nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula.
The last time a senior Chinese official attended an armistice commemoration was 20 years ago. Then, Hu Jintao was sent in his capacity as a member of the secretariat of the Communist Party's Central Committee.
