North’s congratulatory message to China is tellingly short

North Korea on Wednesday sent a short congratulatory message to China on the opening of the 19th congress of the Communist party, in what could indicate strained ties over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests.

The central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea warmly congratulated the Communist Party of China (CPC) on its congress, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

“It sincerely wished the 19th Congress of the CPC satisfactory success,” the report said.

Earlier in the day, Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the party congress, a forum expected to further consolidate his power. The congress is likely to be presented with his blueprint for leading the country for a second five-year term.

North Korea’s ties with China, its main ally and economic benefactor, have been strained over Pyongyang’s persistent pursuit of nuclear and missile programs. China has implemented U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapon and missile tests.

The North also sent a congratulatory message to China for the 18th party congress, which was held in 2012. It vowed to defend and strengthen the friendly relationship between the two countries.

But this time, Pyongyang sent a three-sentence message without mentioning the future direction of their ties.

Some experts said that the North’s delivery of a congratulatory message indicates party-to-party exchanges are being kept, despite icy ties between the two nations.

“The move seems to mean that North Korea has no intent to cut off its traditional ties with China’s party,” said Park Byung-kwang, senior research fellow at the state-run Institute for National Security Strategy.

Seoul’s spy agency earlier said that North Korea could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile on a standard trajectory over the Pacific around the time of China’s party event. However, officials say there are no clear signs of such a North Korean provocation.

South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said that it is fair to say there is a low chance of North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons.

The minister dismissed calls by politicians for the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula as unrealistic.

“The government is currently not considering such a move,” Cho said. “Redeployment of tactical nukes means that we would recognize North Korea as a nuclear state.”

Yonhap