Kim Jong-un to attend China's V-Day commemorations on Sept 3

BEIJING - Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), will attend China's V-Day commemorations, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei announced on Thursday.

China will hold a grand gathering, including a military parade, in central Beijing on Sept 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

"We warmly welcome General Secretary Kim Jong-un to China to attend the commemorations," Hong said at a press conference.

China and the DPRK are traditional friendly neighbors, Hong said, noting that during the arduous years of war, the Chinese and DPRK people supported each other and fought side by side against Japanese aggression, making important contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and humanity's just cause.

He said that safeguarding, consolidating and developing China-DPRK relations is the firm stance of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, adding that China stands ready to continue working with the DPRK to enhance exchanges and cooperation, and advance socialist development.

China is also willing to closely coordinate with the DPRK in promoting regional peace and stability, and safeguarding international fairness and justice to write a new chapter in the traditional friendship between the two countries, Hong said.