China says its ambassador doing 'normal' jobs in N. Korea

BEIJING, May 25 (Yonhap) -- The Chinese ambassador to North Korea, Li Jinjun, has been doing his "normal diplomatic activities" in Pyongyang, China's foreign ministry said Monday, despite the absence of a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Li.

Li, who took up the post in March and presented his credentials to North Korea's ceremonial leader, Kim Yong-nam, has not yet met with the North Korean leader amid strained ties over the North's defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Li's predecessor, Liu Hongcai, met then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il less than a month after assuming the post. China is North Korea's economic lifeline and diplomatic backer.

Asked about the absence of a meeting between the North Korean leader and the Chinese ambassador, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying replied that, "As far as I have learned, the Chinese ambassador to North Korea presented his credentials to the North Korean leader on March 30."

"It means that the ambassador can carry out normal diplomatic activities" in North Korea, Hua said.

North Korean leader Kim has yet to visit China since taking the helm of the reclusive state in late 2011.

The alliance between North Korea and China has often been described as being "forged in blood" during the 1950-53 Korean War, but it has been wearing thin recently as China's economic and military clout have been growing in Asia.

kdh@yna.co.kr
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