A delegation from the Chinese Communist Party and government, led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, will be participating in North Korea’s 75th Founding Day celebrations on September 9.

The event marks the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japanese occupation in 1945.

A delegation from the Chinese Communist Party and government, led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, will be participating in these celebrations, according to state media KCNA.

The invitation for this visit was extended by the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The WPK, headed by Kim Jong Un, has been in control of North Korea since its establishment in 1948, and this anniversary holds significant historical importance for the nation.

Meanwhile, there are reports suggesting that Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, may be preparing for his first foreign trip since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

U.S. officials have indicated that Kim might visit Russia to discuss a potential arms deal with President Vladimir Putin.

The New York Times, citing unnamed officials, has suggested that this visit could occur as soon as next week. However, both Russia and North Korean state media have yet to confirm or comment on this potential visit.

This development follows a recent visit by a Chinese delegation, led by Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong, to Pyongyang in July.

The delegation attended a military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, marking the first such visit by a Chinese delegation since the pandemic began.

During the parade, Li Hongzhong and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu were seen alongside Kim Jong Un, observing North Korea’s nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Additionally, North Korea recently began allowing its citizens to return to the country for the first time since 2020 when it closed its borders due to the pandemic, signalling a potential easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

As international attention focuses on these diplomatic engagements, the world watches for further developments in the region and any official confirmation of Kim Jong Un’s potential visit to Russia.