북한과 중국, 외교장관 회담에서 협력 심화 합의
North Korea and China agree to deepen cooperation in talks between foreign ministers
Associated Press
https://apnews.com/author/hyung-jin-kim
EN
2026-04-11 04:25
Translated
북한과 중국의 외교장관들이 양국 간 협력과 교류를 더욱 심화하기로 합의했으며 국제 문제에 대해 "심층적 교환"을 가졌다고 양국 관영 언론이 금요일 보도했다.
중국의 왕이 외교장관이 목요일 평양에 날아갔으며, 이는 7년 만의 북한 방문이다.
중국 신화통신은 왕이와 북한의 최선희 외교장관이 목요일 회담에서 현재의 국제 및 지역 문제를 논의했다고 밝혔으나 구체적인 내용은 공개하지 않았다. 북한의 공식 조선중앙통신은 양측이 외교 정책을 담당하는 기관 간 전략적 소통을 강화하기로도 합의했다고 보도했다.
두 언론 매체 모두 최선희와 왕이가 미국이나 중동 전쟁 같은 다른 주제에 대해 논의했는지는 언급하지 않았다.
왕이의 북한 방문은 도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령이 5월 시진핑 중국 국가주석과의 재일정 정상회담을 위해 베이징을 방문하기 전에 이루어졌다.
북한과 중국의 관계는 흔히 "입술과 치아처럼 가깝다"고 묘사되어 왔으나, 최근 몇 년 동안 양국 관계에 의문이 제기되었다. 북한은 우크라이나 전쟁을 지원하기 위해 군대와 탄약을 공급함으로써 러시아와의 협력 확대에 집중했으며, 중국은 북한과 러시아와 반서방 동맹을 형성하는 데 소극적인 것으로 알려졌다.
하지만 북한과 중국은 양국 간 관계를 공고히 하려고 노력하고 있다. 지난 9월 김정은 북한 지도자와 시진핑은 6년 이상 만에 첫 정상회담을 가졌으며 상호 지지를 다짐했다.
지난달 북한과 중국은 2020년 코로나19 팬데믹 초기 이후 중단되었던 직항 항공편과 여객 열차 서비스를 재개했다.
중국의 왕이 외교장관이 목요일 평양에 날아갔으며, 이는 7년 만의 북한 방문이다.
중국 신화통신은 왕이와 북한의 최선희 외교장관이 목요일 회담에서 현재의 국제 및 지역 문제를 논의했다고 밝혔으나 구체적인 내용은 공개하지 않았다. 북한의 공식 조선중앙통신은 양측이 외교 정책을 담당하는 기관 간 전략적 소통을 강화하기로도 합의했다고 보도했다.
두 언론 매체 모두 최선희와 왕이가 미국이나 중동 전쟁 같은 다른 주제에 대해 논의했는지는 언급하지 않았다.
왕이의 북한 방문은 도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령이 5월 시진핑 중국 국가주석과의 재일정 정상회담을 위해 베이징을 방문하기 전에 이루어졌다.
북한과 중국의 관계는 흔히 "입술과 치아처럼 가깝다"고 묘사되어 왔으나, 최근 몇 년 동안 양국 관계에 의문이 제기되었다. 북한은 우크라이나 전쟁을 지원하기 위해 군대와 탄약을 공급함으로써 러시아와의 협력 확대에 집중했으며, 중국은 북한과 러시아와 반서방 동맹을 형성하는 데 소극적인 것으로 알려졌다.
하지만 북한과 중국은 양국 간 관계를 공고히 하려고 노력하고 있다. 지난 9월 김정은 북한 지도자와 시진핑은 6년 이상 만에 첫 정상회담을 가졌으며 상호 지지를 다짐했다.
지난달 북한과 중국은 2020년 코로나19 팬데믹 초기 이후 중단되었던 직항 항공편과 여객 열차 서비스를 재개했다.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in North Korea on Thursday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center left, walks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, center right, on his arrival at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center, arrives at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is seen at right. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
People welecom the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, unseen, at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in North Korea on Thursday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center left, walks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, center right, on his arrival at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center left, walks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, center right, on his arrival at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center, arrives at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is seen at right. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center, arrives at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is seen at right. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
People welecom the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, unseen, at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
People welecom the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, unseen, at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The foreign ministers of North Korea and China agreed to further deepen cooperation and exchanges between their countries and had an “in-depth exchange” on international issues, the countries’ state media outlets reported Friday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi flew to Pyongyang on Thursday in his first visit to North Korea in seven years.
China’s Xinhua news agency said Wang and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui discussed current international and regional issues at their meeting Thursday but didn’t specify what those issues were. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported they also agreed to strengthen strategic communication between their agencies handling foreign policy.
Neither outlet mentioned whether Choe and Wang discussed the United States or other topics like the war in the Middle East.
Wang’s trip to North Korea came before U.S. President Donald Trump travels to Beijing for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.
The relationship between North Korea and China has often been described as being “as close as lips and teeth,” but their ties have been questioned in recent years. North Korea focused on expanding cooperation with Russia by supplying troops and ammunition to support its war against Ukraine, while China is reportedly reluctant to form an anti-West alliance with North Korea and Russia.
But North Korea and China have been pushing to solidify their ties. Last September, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Xi held their first summit in more than six years and pledged mutual support.
Last month, North Korea and China resumed their direct flight and passenger train services, which had been suspended since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center left, walks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, center right, on his arrival at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center, arrives at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is seen at right. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
People welecom the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, unseen, at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in North Korea on Thursday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center left, walks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, center right, on his arrival at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center left, walks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, center right, on his arrival at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center, arrives at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is seen at right. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center, arrives at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is seen at right. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
People welecom the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, unseen, at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
People welecom the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, unseen, at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The foreign ministers of North Korea and China agreed to further deepen cooperation and exchanges between their countries and had an “in-depth exchange” on international issues, the countries’ state media outlets reported Friday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi flew to Pyongyang on Thursday in his first visit to North Korea in seven years.
China’s Xinhua news agency said Wang and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui discussed current international and regional issues at their meeting Thursday but didn’t specify what those issues were. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported they also agreed to strengthen strategic communication between their agencies handling foreign policy.
Neither outlet mentioned whether Choe and Wang discussed the United States or other topics like the war in the Middle East.
Wang’s trip to North Korea came before U.S. President Donald Trump travels to Beijing for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.
The relationship between North Korea and China has often been described as being “as close as lips and teeth,” but their ties have been questioned in recent years. North Korea focused on expanding cooperation with Russia by supplying troops and ammunition to support its war against Ukraine, while China is reportedly reluctant to form an anti-West alliance with North Korea and Russia.
But North Korea and China have been pushing to solidify their ties. Last September, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Xi held their first summit in more than six years and pledged mutual support.
Last month, North Korea and China resumed their direct flight and passenger train services, which had been suspended since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.