Kim tells Xi that North Korea will support China’s interests, KCNA reports
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Israeli Foreign Ministry: Macron will not be allowed into the country if he does not change his stance on Palestine.
Gideon Sa’ar has advised France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to abandon the initiative of unilaterally recognizing Palestine. If such a change does not occur, French President Emmanuel Macron will not be allowed into
Sa’ar warned that if such a change does not occur, French President Emmanuel Macron will not be allowed into Israel.
The Israeli top diplomat stressed: “Israel wants to build good relations with France, but France must respect Israel’s position regarding its security and future.”
He also added that if Paris continues initiatives that “harm Israel’s interests,” then President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Israel would be “meaningless.”
Yonhap News Summary
Two South Koreans were among the victims who were killed in a funicular railway crash in Portugal. Another South Korean woman who was injured is in intensive care after undergoing surgery. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has told Chinese President Xi Jinping that Pyongyang will “invariably” support China’s interests. The two sides underscored their commitment to the two countries’ constant friendship during their talks in Beijing. The minor Rebuilding Korea Party has been embroiled in an intensifying sexual misconduct scandal, prompting an apology by the party’s acting leader. The head of South Korea’s arms procurement agency met with government officials in Saudi Arabia earlier this week to discuss cooperation in the defense sector. The defense ministry boosts its budget over the 80th anniversary of the country’s independence from the United States. The North’s culture minister visited Saudi Arabia on Thursday to explore ways at exploring ways to help South Korean defense firms’ participation in Saudi’s project to enhance its defense capabilities. The South’s special counsel team said Friday it raided the presidential National Educational Commission (NEC) over bribery allegations.
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■ (LEAD) 2 S. Koreans among killed in Lisbon funicular crash: foreign ministry
SEOUL — Two South Koreans were among the victims who were killed in a funicular railway crash in Portugal that left at least 16 people dead, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Friday.
The deceased were a man and a woman, while another South Korean woman who was injured is in intensive care after undergoing surgery, the ministry said, without providing further details.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250905000951315?section=national/diplomacy
This Reuters photo captures first responders working at the site of the fatal funicular crash in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sept. 3, 2025. The accident has so far claimed 16 lives, including two South Koreans. Another South Korean was among the 22 people injured. (Yonhap)
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■ (2nd LD) Kim tells Xi that N. Korea will support China’s interests: KCNA
SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has told Chinese President Xi Jinping that Pyongyang will “invariably” support China’s interests, according to the North’s state media Friday, as the two sides underscored their commitment to the two countries’ constant friendship during their talks in Beijing.
Kim and Xi met bilaterally at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, the North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, a day after the leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly appeared at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II — in a show of their solidarity.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250905000252315?section=nk/nk
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■ (LEAD) Kim, Xi reaffirm unchanging friendship in Beijing talks following apparent strain in ties
SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored their commitment to the two countries’ constant friendship during their talks in Beijing, a report said Friday, amid joint efforts to reinforce bilateral ties seen as strained amid a deepening military alignment between the North and Russia.
Kim and Xi met bilaterally at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, China’s state Xinhua News Agency said, a day after the leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly appeared at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II — in a show of their solidarity.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250905000251315?section=nk/nk
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■ Minor Rebuilding Korea Party embroiled in sexual misconduct scandal
SEOUL — The minor Rebuilding Korea Party has been embroiled in an intensifying sexual misconduct scandal, prompting an apology by the party’s acting leader a day after its spokesperson quit in protest of the leadership’s poor handling of the case.
Kim Sun-min, the party’s acting leader, made the apology during a press conference Friday at the National Assembly, vowing to “make every effort until full recovery for the victims is achieved.”
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250905003700315?section=national/politics
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■ (LEAD) Special counsel raids Nat’l Education Commission over alleged bribery of ex-first lady
SEOUL — A special counsel team said Friday it raided the presidential National Educational Commission (NEC) over bribery allegations involving its incumbent chief and former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
Prosecutors and investigators from special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team searched the commission in the morning to secure possible evidence on suspicions that NEC Chairperson Lee Bae-yong was appointed to the ministerial post after giving a gold gift to Kim.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250905003851315?section=national/national
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■ Arms agency chief, Saudi officials discuss defense cooperation
SEOUL — The head of South Korea’s arms procurement agency met with government officials in Saudi Arabia earlier this week to discuss bilateral cooperation in the defense sector, officials said Friday.
Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Seok Jong-gun visited Saudi Arabia from Wednesday to Thursday in a trip aimed at exploring ways to help South Korean defense firms’ participation in Saudi’s project to enhance its defense capabilities.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250905003100315?section=national/defense
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■ Culture ministry boosts film budget over 80 pct to revive industry
SEOUL — The culture ministry said Friday it has significantly increased next year’s budget for the local movie industry by more than 80 percent to reinvigorate the sector.
The budget now stands at 149 billion won (US$10.7 million), a substantial rise from this year’s 82.9 billion won. This marks the second-highest allocation ever, surpassed only by the special budget allocated in 2022 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250905005300315
(END)
Kim, Xi hail bond as North Korea says it will protect China’s interests
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Chinese President Xi Jinping that North Korea will support China in protecting its sovereignty, territory and development interests. The pair met just a day after an unprecedented show of unity with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. Kim was quoted as saying, “No matter how the international situation changes, the feeling of friendship cannot change” between Pyongyang and Beijing. The bilateral meeting between Xi and Kim on Thursday came as Russia also hailed North Korea’s role supporting its war in Ukraine, continuing the public display of close relations between Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow. Kim departed Beijing on Thursday, concluding his first trip outside of North Korea since meeting with Putin in Russia in 2023. North Korea has controversially sent thousands of soldiers to fight in Kursk – a Russian region briefly occupied by Ukraine – and also provided artillery ammunition and missiles to support Moscow in its war.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Chinese President Xi Jinping that North Korea will support China in protecting its sovereignty, territory and development interests, as the pair met just a day after an unprecedented show of unity with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
The bilateral meeting between Xi and Kim on Thursday came as Russia also hailed North Korea’s role supporting its war in Ukraine, continuing the public display of close relations between Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow after their meeting at Wednesday’s huge military parade in China’s capital to mark 80 years since the end of World War II.
In an article published on Friday by North Korea’s state-run outlet, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim was quoted as saying, “No matter how the international situation changes, the feeling of friendship cannot change” between Pyongyang and Beijing.
“The DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] will as ever invariably support and encourage the stand and efforts of the Communist Party of China and the government of the People’s Republic of China to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests of the state,” Kim said after meeting with Xi, according to KCNA.
Xi also reportedly told Kim that China and North Korea are “good neighbours, good friends and good comrades” that share one destiny, and he was willing to “defend, consolidate and develop” the countries’ relations, KCNA said.
KCNA also confirmed that Kim departed Beijing on Thursday, concluding his first trip outside of North Korea since meeting with Putin in Russia in 2023.
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Top-ranking Chinese Communist Party officials – including Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi – attended a send-off ceremony for Kim, according to KCNA.
During Wednesday’s military parade in Beijing – in which the People’s Liberation Army displayed its latest generation of stealth fighters, tanks and ballistic missiles amid a highly choreographed cast of thousands – Xi hailed China’s victory 80 years ago over “Japanese aggression” in the “world anti-fascist war”.
Putin and Kim were among some 26 mostly non-Western world leaders in attendance, with the pair meeting with Xi for two and a half hours on the event’s sidelines in an unprecedented display of unity. The trio discussed “long-term” cooperation plans, according to KCNA.
Putin and Kim also met prior to the parade, with both leaders praising the deepening military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Seemingly rattled by the meeting, United States President Donald Trump addressed Xi in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”
A Kremlin aide dismissed Trump’s remarks, saying “no one even had this in their thoughts”.
Following the meeting, Putin also sent Kim a congratulatory message for North Korea’s foundation day, in which he hailed Pyongyang’s support for Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
“Your combat force’s heroic involvement in liberating the Kursk territories from the invaders is a distinct symbol of friendship and mutual aid between Russia and North Korea,” Putin’s message read, according to KCNA.
“I am confident that we will continue to work together to consolidate the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries,” Putin added.
North Korea has controversially sent thousands of soldiers to fight in Kursk – a Russian region briefly occupied by Ukraine – and also provided artillery ammunition and missiles to support Moscow in its war against Kyiv.
During their meeting in Beijing, Kim also reportedly told Putin his country would “fully support” Russia’s army as a “fraternal duty”, KCNA previously reported.
Kim tells Xi that N. Korea will support China’s interests: KCNA
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un tells Chinese President Xi Jinping that Pyongyang will “invariably” support China’s interests. The two sides underscored their commitment to the two countries’ constant friendship during their talks in Beijing. Kim and Xi met bilaterally at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, a day after the leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly appeared at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Xi said that China has maintained an “objective” and “impartial” stance and stands ready to continue strengthening coordination with the North in order to help maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, according to the North’s state media. The meeting marked the leaders’ first in-person meeting in more than six years, and came amid speculation that broadening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow might have put a strain on the traditional relations between China and the North.
Kim and Xi met bilaterally at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, the North’s Korean Central News Agency reported, a day after the leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly appeared at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II — in a show of their solidarity.
Kim told Xi that North Korea “will as ever invariably support and encourage the stand and efforts of the Communist Party of China and the government of the People’s Republic of China to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests of the state,” according to the KCNA report.
The talks came amid speculation that broadening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow might have put a strain on the traditional relations between China and the North as it could cause an erosion in Beijing’s influence over Pyongyang.
Kim said that the friendship between the two countries will remain unchanged “no matter how the international landscape evolves,” China’s Xinhua News Agency reported earlier, as he stressed Pyongyang’s “firm” commitment to continuously deepening and developing bilateral ties.
Xi said the Communist Party of China and his government “highly” value the friendship between the two countries, and are ready to maintain, consolidate and develop “sound” ties with the North, according to the news agency.
“China and the DPRK are good neighbors, good friends and good comrades who share a common destiny and stand by each other,” Xi was quoted by Xinhua as saying. DPRK is short for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The KCNA quoted Xi as expressing his willingness to successfully develop bilateral relations, noting that the two countries are good friends who share a destiny and help each other.
Kim said that China, through its military parade, showed its firm “determination to defend world peace and clearly demonstrated its important international position and influence on this occasion.”
Xi noted that Kim’s attendance “served as an important occasion of showing the firm will of the DPRK side to resolutely defend the outcome of the victory in the World War II.”
They also discussed the issue of intensifying high-level visits and informed each other of their governments’ policy positions in the field of external relations, the KCNA said.
Touching on the Korean Peninsula issue, Xi said that China has maintained an “objective” and “impartial” stance and stands ready to continue strengthening coordination with the North in order to help maintain peace and stability on the peninsula, according to Xinhua.
He also called for joint efforts to enhance “strategic” coordination in international and regional affairs to safeguard the two countries “common interests.”
“China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication, deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship with the DPRK,” Xi was quoted as saying.
During the talks, Kim stressed Pyongyang’s readiness to deepen “mutually beneficial” economic and trade cooperation with China, while noting its willingness to work with China to strengthen exchanges at various levels and share experience in party building, economic development and other fields, Xinhua said.
Thursday’s meeting marked the leaders’ first in-person meeting in more than six years.
On Wednesday, Kim held bilateral talks with Putin, where the two sides discussed “long-term” plans for bilateral cooperation, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency.
Though Xi, Kim and Putin gathered in the Chinese capital this week, a trilateral meeting did not materialize amid worries that their three-way gathering could send a more explicit message against the United States following their joint appearance at the military parade, a showcase of China’s rising military heft.
Kim’s visit to China was seen as his strategic move to bolster his authority at home, efface his image as an isolated ruler, stress his solidarity with the Chinese and Russian leaders against the West, and boost his bargaining power ahead of potential negotiations with US President Donald Trump.
Kim’s private train was seen leaving a station in the Chinese capital at 10:05 p.m. It marked his fifth trip to China following the last one in 2019. (Yonhap)
Kim tells Xi that North Korea will support China’s interests, KCNA reports
Kim Jong Un told Chinese President Xi Jinping that North Korea will continue to support China in protecting Chinese sovereignty, territory and development interests. Xi told Kim that China and North Korea are “good neighbors, good friends and good comrades” who share one destiny. Kim’s visit to China “marked a historic occasion which further strengthened the political trust and strategic cooperation between… the two countries,” KCNA reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent Kim a congratulatory message for North Korea’s foundation day on Thursday, KCNA said. North Korea has sent soldiers, artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
Item 1 of 5 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral summit in Beijing, China September 4, 2025. KCNA via REUTERS
Summary Kim and Xi discuss strategic cooperation and regional issues
Kim’s visit strengthens political trust and cooperation between North Korea and China, KCNA says
Putin sends congratulatory message to Kim for North Korea’s foundation day
SEOUL, Sept 5 (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Chinese President Xi Jinping that North Korea will continue to support China in protecting Chinese sovereignty, territory and development interests, North Korean state media KCNA said on Friday.
“No matter how the international situation changes, the feeling of friendship cannot change” between North Korea and China, Kim told Xi during bilateral t in Beijing on Thursday, KCNA reported.
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Xi told Kim that China and North Korea are “good neighbors, good friends and good comrades” who share one destiny, according to KCNA.
The leaders discussed strengthening strategic cooperation and protecting common interests in international and regional issues, and conducting more visits among high-ranking officials between the two countries as well as strategic communication, KCNA said.
KCNA confirmed that Kim left Beijing on Thursday to return to North Korea. Senior Chinese officials including top-ranked Communist Party official Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi were there to send Kim off, KCNA said.
Kim’s visit to China “marked a historic occasion which further strengthened the political trust and strategic cooperation between… the two countries,” KCNA reported. It was evidence of “the invariability and invincibility of the DPRK-China friendly relations that… overcame all sorts of trials and challenges,” KCNA said, using the initials of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent Kim a congratulatory message for North Korea’s foundation day on Thursday, KCNA said.
“Your combat force’s heroic involvement in liberating the Kursk territories from the invaders is a distinct symbol of friendship and mutual aid between Russia and North Korea”, Putin’s message read, according to KCNA.
“I am confident that we will continue to work together to consolidate the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries,” Putin said.
North Korea has sent soldiers, artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine. During a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, Kim told Putin his country would “fully support” Russia’s army as a “fraternal duty”, KCNA previously said.
Reporting by Joyce Lee in Seoul; Editing by Leslie Adler, Matthew Lewis and Lincoln Feast.
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