Source:Yonhap
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has completed the expansion and remodeling of a cemetery of Chinese soldiers killed during the Korean War, Pyongyang's media reported Friday.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that a ceremony was held in Pyongyang's Kangdong County and Sunan District on Thursday to celebrate the renovation of the cemetery for the Chinese People's Volunteers killed while fighting for the North in the 1950-53 war.
The KCNA said the cemetery has also been renamed "Martyrs Cemetery" on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's entry into the Korean front.
The remodeling and renaming of the Chinese military cemetery in the North's capital illustrate the recent improvement in their bilateral relations, watchers here say.
Thursday's ceremony was attended by top officials from both countries, including Choe Song-chol, vice minister of Urban Management, and Chinese Ambassador to Pyongyang Li Jinjun, as well as Chinese students and residents living in the North.
Ambassador Li was quoted in English by the KCNA as saying, "The Chinese volunteers beat back the imperialist aggression together with the Korean army and people under the banner of resisting America and aiding Korea, safeguarding the home and defending the motherland 68 years ago, and thus preserved peace and stability of the region and the world."
He then expressed the will to steadily carry forward and develop the bilateral friendship that has opened up a new chapter under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
From the North, Vice Minister Choe said that the ceremony reflects the fixed will of the top leaders of the two countries to more firmly advance and improve the traditions of the North-China friendship.
The North's official Rodong Sinmun has also highlighted the Pyongyang-Beijing friendship, saying in an editorial Thursday that North Korea highly values Chinese soldiers' heroic sacrifices and will forever remember the lessons of their fight for the North.
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