Xi replies to Kim Jong-un, but not to Moon

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a reply to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the latter’s earlier congratulatory letter on his re-election as the leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), North Korean state media reported Thursday.

But Xi has not yet sent one to President Moon Jae-in who also sent him a congratulatory letter, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

The North’s Korean Central News Agency said that Xi sent the reply to Kim the previous day following the latter’s congratulations on his re-election at the party’s 19th congress late last month.

“I, as a representative of the central committee of the CPC, express sincere gratitude to the central committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the committee leader for sending a congratulatory message on my re-election as the party chief,” Xi’s message read, according to the agency.

“I wish that under the new situation, the Chinese side will make a joint effort with North Korea for sustainable, sound and stable development of the relations between the two countries, so the relations can contribute to bringing more happiness to peo- ple of the two nations and protecting peace, stability and common prosperity in the region,” it said.

Xi also hoped North Korea would make new achievements continuously under Kim’s leadership.

Kim sent the congratulatory message to Xi, Oct. 25, saying he was sure the relations between the two countries and those between the two communist parties of the nations would develop to benefit the people of their nations.

The relationship between the longtime allies has been rather chilly in recent years, as the international community has pressured China to play a more active role in addressing North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats while the North continues its provocations.

So the exchange of messages may signal a thawing of the relationship, experts say.

President Moon has not yet received a letter from Xi.

“Xi was re-elected as the CPC’s leader. Regarding North Korea and China, the messages were exchanged between leaders of each country’s communist party, while in the case of South Korea and China, they are between the leaders of their respective government and party. The North and South’s cases are different,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said.