Xi, Kim Mark 65th Anniversary of China-DPRK Treaty

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- Xi Jinping called on China and North Korea to uphold 'strategic resolve' amid global turmoil as he and Kim Jong Un commemorated the 65th anniversary of their countries' friendship treaty.
- Al Jazeera framed the China-DPRK partnership as 'Sealed in blood,' questioning where the alliance stands today amid the anniversary summit.
- Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to its friendship with North Korea, language that directly echoes the mutual defense obligations embedded in the 1961 treaty being honored.
Why it matters: The anniversary comes as both countries face sustained US pressure — Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs and Beijing over strategic competition — making Xi's public call for 'strategic resolve' a signal of continued alignment rather than routine diplomatic boilerplate. The CGTN readout frames it as solidarity, while Al Jazeera's 'Sealed in blood' headline highlights the binding, militarized nature of the pact.
