N. Korean leader congratulates Hu on China's founding anniversary

(ATTN: UPDATES lead, quotes with English-language report by KCNA through para 4)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Wednesday
congratulated Chinese President Hu Jintao over the 60th anniversary of the
founding of the allied neighbor and vowed to solidify relations between the two
nations, state media said.
In a letter to Hu, he called the allies' friendship "a valuable asset" and said
his country will continue to "consolidate and develop it generation after
generation."
Kim praised the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1 in 1959 as
"an event that brought about a fundamental change" in the Chinese history and
people's lives.
"Today the Chinese people are registering big successes in their efforts to build
a harmonious socialist society," he said, adding the North Korean people are
"rejoiced over these as over their own."
The message was jointly signed by senior leaders Kim Yong-nam, president of the
Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Premier Kim Yong-il, and then
sent to their respective Chinese counterparts, Wu Bangguo and Wen Jiabao.
Wen is set to visit Pyongyang from Oct. 4-6 to attend the closing ceremony of the
"friendship year" marking the 60th anniversary of the two nations' diplomatic
relations. The Chinese premier is expected to meet with the North Korean leader
and discuss ways of resuscitating negotiations aimed at ending the North's
nuclear weapons program.
China's foreign ministry indicated Tuesday that its government would provide new
assistance to the North on the occasion of Wen's trip. The two nations will also
sign several deals ranging from economy and trade to education and tourism during
the visit, it said.
North Korea normalized ties with China on Oct. 6, 1949, just days after the
Chinese government was founded, as one of the first countries to do so.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)