In the traditional greeting sent by the North Korean dictator to Beijing, for the first time in decades, there is no mention the "special relationship" that unites the two nations. Experts agree: "Diplomatic standoff underway, no one can backtrack."

Seoul (AsiaNews) - According to the decennial tradition, the dictator of North Korea yesterday sent a message of greetings to the leaders in Beijing for the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. However, for the first time, Kim Jong-un made no reference to the "special friendship" that binds the two nations. The phrase was coined by his grandfather and father of the nation, Kim Il-sung, and since then had always been included in the formal messages between Beijing and Pyongyang.

The omission, experts point out, indicates how much relations between the two neighboring countries have deteriorated. China has always been the most important diplomatic and economic sponsor of North Korea, which in fact now depends on the goodwill of the Chinese leaders for humanitarian aid and commercial contracts. However, the continuing military provocations by Pyongyang and the apparent rejection of the Stalinist regime to listen to the Chinese have cooled relations. In August 2014, an editorial appeared in the North Korean national newspaper calling China a "now corrupt and decadent" country.

The message sent yesterday by Kim Jong-un and the heads of his government to Beijing is also very short: only three paragraphs, published by the North's state news agency, which augur  "well-being and prosperity for China" and "happiness" for the local population. Last year, on the same occasion, the young dictator had instead emphasized "the strength of the alliance that binds the two countries, forged on the battlefields of the Korean War."

According to some experts, the amended edition is revenge for the cold message sent by Xi Jinping to Pyongyang last September 9, the anniversary of the founding of North Korea. During the decade led by hsi predecessor Hu Jintao, the formula used was always referred to "tradition, future relationships, friendship and cooperation".  Since Xi came to power, this sentence has been missing. Kim Heung-kyu of Ajou University says "we are facing a diplomatic row, in which neither side can afford to back down".

 

 

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