North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of Ryonpho Greenhouse Farm Held in Ryonpho area of Hamju County, South Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, North Korea in this photo released on February 18, 2022 by North Korea鈥檚 Korean Central 黑料社 Agency (KCNA). (KCNA via REUTERS)
SEOUL聽 鈥� North Korea鈥檚 Kim Jong Un vowed to strengthen cooperation with China and together 鈥渇rustrate鈥� threats and hostile policies from the United States and its allies, state media reported on Tuesday.
Kim made the remarks in a verbal message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, congratulating him on the , state news agency KCNA said in a summary.
North Korea and China are defending and advancing socialism, while 鈥渇rustrating the undisguised hostile policy and military threat of the U.S. and its satellite forces鈥� by strengthening strategic cooperation and unity, Kim said.
Kim praised and said under Xi鈥檚 leadership, China had persevered in the face of an 鈥渦nprecedentedly severe health crisis and the hostile forces鈥� maneuvers.鈥�
North Korea did not participate in the Games, which ended on Sunday.
In a previous letter from sports authorities in January, North Korea blamed 鈥渉ostile forces鈥� and COVID-19 risks for its not being able to attend.
North Korean athletes were not eligible to compete under their national flag after the country failed to send a team to the Tokyo Summer Olympics last year, citing COVID-19 concerns.
China has been North Korea鈥檚 only major ally since the two signed a treaty in 1961.