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| Kim Jong-un consoles a Chinese tourist who was injured in Sunday's bus accident in North Korea. / Yonhap |
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| / Yonhap |
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| / Yonhap |
By Kim Rahn
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang to express his
"bitter sorrow" over the deaths of Chinese tourists in a bus accident in his country, by visiting the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Tuesday.
His visit came only hours after the accident, an unusual move. It was also Kim's first visit to the Chinese embassy in his country since taking power in late 2011. It was unusual for the North's state-run propaganda media to report negative news about the regime.
The rare response reflects the rapidly improving Pyongyang-Beijing relations, following Kim's visit to Beijing and talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month.
"Kim visited the Chinese Embassy here at around 6:30 a.m. on April 23 and expressed his condolences over a large number of casualties among Chinese tourists in a bus crash," the KCNA reported.
The accident took place Sunday evening when a tour bus fell from a bridge in North Hwanghae Province, killing 32 Chinese tourists and four North Koreans.
The KCNA said Kim expressed his regret to Xi, the Chinese government, the Communist Party of China, the victims and the bereaved families.
Over 30 Chinese dead in North Korea tourist bus crash 2018-04-23 13:37 | North Korea
"It is very sad that the unexpected, unfortunate incident happened. I feel heartbroken when thinking of the bereaved families who lost their loved ones," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
He also said the North Korean authorities would take necessary follow-up measures. Later on Sunday, Kim also visited a hospital where two injured Chinese tourists were receiving treatment.
The North's state newspaper Rodong Sinmun put four photos of Kim meeting Chinese Ambassador to Pyongyang Li Jinjun at the embassy and visiting the survivors in the hospital.
Li then expressed gratitude for Kim's visit and said he would report this to Xi and the Chinese government, according to the KCNA.
China's Xinhua News Agency also said Xi asked the Chinese foreign ministry and its embassy in Pyongyang to take all necessary means to deal with the accident.
Such swift responses from the heads of the two nations and the close cooperation between the two governments show their will to maintain the relations of the longtime allies that have been improving rapidly since the Kim-Xi summit last month.
Relations had been strained since Kim's inauguration as the North continued its nuclear and missile tests and the international community pressured China to play a more active role in addressing the North's military threat.
Kim's father, former leader Kim Jong-il, visited the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang several times but it was the first time for the current leader.
