Beijing invites Kim Jong-un to its V-J Day celebration parade

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2015-04-16

Li Jinjun, center, places a wreath at the Friendship Tower in Pyongyang

on April 5. (Photo/Xinhua)

Beijing has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to attend its military parade in September marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, reports Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao.

Hong Lei, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, confirmed Tuesday that Beijing had sent an invitation to the North Korean leader. Beijing has sent invitations to all national leaders of countries involved in the war, Hong said.

The Russian government said in January that Pyongyang had confirmed Kim would attend a celebration in Moscow on May 9 to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. Pyongyang has yet to make its own official announcement that Kim will attend the event.

South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo said China proposes to "acknowledge its differences with North Korea to pursue common goals" amid a strained period for relations between the two countries.

Li Jinjun, the Chinese ambassador to North Korea, met Kim Yong-nam, chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, on March 30 and said Beijing is willing to work with Pyongyang on the basis of mutual respect and equality to facilitate a healthy, steady growth of bilateral relations, according to annnouncement on the embassy's website on Monday.