(RTTNews) - North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il affirmed Pyongyang's "unbreakable" friendship with Beijing Wednesday, when he met with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie.

China's official Xinhua News Agency said Kim called for increased cooperation between the communist nations at a time North Korea is facing international pressure to return to six-nation talks aimed at halting its nuclear program.

In an apparent reference to 6 decades of cooperation between the two communist nations, he said the "DPRK-China friendship, a treasure inherited from the older generations of the leaders of the two countries, had stood the test of history and was unbreakable."

China, which fought alongside North Korea during the Korean War of 1950-52, is its main source of economic aid and diplomatic support. North Korea is badly in need of either aid or foreign currency as UN sanctions begin biting the isolated country.
The sanctions, imposed for carrying out its second nuclear test in May, effectively prevent North from exporting missiles and other arms. It has trade relations with only a few countries.

Liang assured Beijing's "unshakable" commitment to develop cooperation between the two nations.

Tuesday, Liang and his North Korean counterpart pledged to strengthen the two countries' long-standing military alliance.

He will wind up a five-day visit to the country Thursday.

by RTT Staff Writer

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