(LEAD) N. Korean Embassy in China undergoes renovation amid closer Pyongyang-Beijing ties

Detailed summary

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 5 paras, additional photo) SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- N...

SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's Embassy in Beijing appears to have undergone expansion and renovation work recently amid strengthening ties and growing high-level exchanges between Pyongyang and Beijing, sources said Thursday.

The interior expansion work involved two buildings, reportedly including dormitory facilities, with some of the work being detected around the time of leader Kim Jong-un's surprise visit to the Chinese city of Dandong last month, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Construction safety netting was seen around buildings inside the embassy compound and near its main gate.

The sources also said there were indications that Pyongyang had sought contributions from North Koreans staying in China to help cover the costs.

The renovation work came as North Korea and China have stepped up efforts to strengthen bilateral ties through a series of high-level exchanges and concrete steps to expand cross-border cooperation.

During a summit in Pyongyang in June, Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic level and expand cooperation in various fields.

The New Amnok River Bridge, linking the North Korean border city of Sinuiju with Dandong, officially opened in mid-October, marking a major step toward revitalizing economic ties. The four-lane bridge was completed in 2014 but remained unused for more than a decade.

During his visit to Dandong via the bridge, Kim met with China's top political adviser, Wang Huning, and voiced hope for expanding the two countries' historic friendship and practical cooperation, according to the North's state media.

More recently, Kim Song-nam, a senior ruling Workers' Party official in charge of international affairs, traveled to China, while a Chinese Communist Party delegation also visited Pyongyang, underscoring active party-to-party exchanges.

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