North Korea’s Ministry of State Security has been canvassing public opinion about the column that Chinese ambassador Wang Yajun published in the Rodong Sinmun on the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s establishment, carefully monitoring officials’ and citizens’ responses to assess ideological trends inside the country.
“The Ministry of State Security called state security offices in each province, city and county at 5 p.m. on Oct. 8 and ordered them to quickly gauge attitudes to Chinese ambassador Wang Yajun’s column in the Rodong Sinmun both in officialdom and in the public at large,” a source in North Korea told Daily NK recently. “The ministry swiftly added its findings to an urgent report for the 80th Party Foundation Day completed on Oct. 10 that detailed ministry programs aimed at controlling ideology and public opinion.”
According to the source, the report found that officials regard Wang’s column as “reaffirming China’s strategic confidence” and “securing support for the regime.” Officials apparently regard the column as a significant acknowledgment by China that North Korea remains an important partner.
The report added that for ordinary citizens, the column kindled “hopes about improved living conditions.”
The report included specific comments from North Koreans. “Apparently, the newspaper ran a column by the Chinese ambassador, but what really matters is seeing movement in business conditions and distribution channels. If our ties with China improve, presumably more products will enter the country,” said one person in the border region of North Hamgyong province.
“I’m open to diplomacy or anything as long as business conditions get better,” remarked an individual in South Pyongan province.
Officials see regime backing, citizens eye trade prospects
“The piece by the Chinese ambassador is inspiring officials with confidence in the regime, while ordinary citizens regard it as a sign of stability in business conditions and the flow of goods. Among officials in Pyongyang, there’s a strong tendency to regard this as public support from China, providing evidence of the regime’s stability,” the source said.
According to the report, North Korean officials regard Wang’s column as a symbol that “China still supports us” and believe that “North Korea-China relations are a pillar of our survival strategy.”
“Since these were the opinions canvassed between the evening of Oct. 8 and Oct. 10, the party will have to work to get tangible results,” the source said.
Wang’s column, titled “Let’s create a beautiful future together while continuing our traditional friendship,” was published on page six of the Oct. 8 edition of the Rodong Sinmun. In the column, Wang underscored the strong ties between North Korea and China and pledged that the two countries would continue developing their relationship based on strategic communication between their supreme leaders.
“Our history and present reality have demonstrated that the friendship between China and North Korea has surmounted the challenges of our complex geopolitical situation to grow even stronger over time and will never be shaken. Thanks to the strategic intentions of Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping and Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un and the joint efforts of the people of our two countries, I’m confident that North Korea-China relations will see a brighter tomorrow,” Wang wrote in the column.
It is highly unusual for the Chinese ambassador to personally pen a column for the Rodong Sinmun on Party Foundation Day, North Korea’s biggest event on the country’s political calendar. The last time a Chinese ambassador contributed a column to the Rodong Sinmun was in June 2021, four years and four months ago, when then ambassador Li Jinjun wrote to mark the second anniversary of Xi’s visit to North Korea.
Since Wang’s column was published as North Korea works to strengthen ties with China and Russia, it appears aimed at reconfirming North Korea’s traditional friendship with China and bolstering cooperation on the 80th anniversary of the ruling party’s establishment.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stressed the development of North Korea-China relations during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who was visiting North Korea on Oct. 9 to attend a celebration of the 80th Party Foundation Day.
“Further strengthening and developing North Korea and China’s friendly, cooperative relationship in line with this era’s demands is the steadfast position of the Workers’ Party of Korea and government of the Republic,” Kim said.
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