新闻来源：www.bloomberg.com
原文地址：Kim Jong Un Offers Tepid Praise to China as He Cozies Up to Russia
新闻日期：2024-09-22
金正恩向中国领导人送去了贺电，并以克制的话语表达敬意，这显现了朝鲜正在逐步拉近与俄罗斯的关系，并减少对亚洲长期盟友的依赖。
据韩国首尔专业服务机构NK Pro分析指出，在过去一年里，金正恩与习近平之间的互动文件数量显著下降，今年仅有3次提及双方交流的情况，而2023年则高达10次。文章强调了朝鲜和中国关系描述上“不再那么热情洋溢”，这反映出两位领导人之间感情上的微妙变化。
金正恩在回复给习主席的贺电中说：“祝愿中国人民在建设现代化社会主义国家方面取得更大成就。”这份消息稿相较以往的辞藻丰富，显得更为简练。NK Pro创始人指出，今年与往年相比，朝鲜官方媒体上两国关系的描述“不再那么热烈”，这预示着曾经亲密的领导人私人关系已经出现了实际的距离。
朝鲜过去常常将其与中国的关系比喻为“唇齿相依”。其官方媒体曾频繁表达对“中国兄弟人民”的深厚信任和友好情感。然而，与此同时，金正恩在过去一年中与俄罗斯加强了互动交流。美欧国家指责称，这导致了朝鲜向俄罗斯输送武器，包括数百万发炮弹及导弹，以支持乌克兰战争。
作为回报，俄罗斯提供了经济援助来支撑朝鲜的经济，并帮助金正恩推动其军事项目发展。首尔和华盛顿对此表示关切。仅弹药一项的价值估计就达到数十亿美元，而从俄罗斯获得的援助可能对朝鲜经济构成了过去十多年里最大的提振。
据报道，中国长期以来一直是朝鲜的主要受益者之一，在冷战结束后的时间里给予了朝鲜经济上的“生命线”。本月，俄罗斯派遣国家安全委员会秘书长前往平壤与金正恩会面。随后，朝鲜外长出访了俄罗斯，并进行了一次罕见的国际旅行，期间与她的同行进行了会谈。
六月时，普京访问平壤对朝鲜来说是20多年来的首次，两国领导人承诺将彼此互相援助以防受到攻击。而作为回报，金正恩也表示“无条件支持”俄罗斯在乌克兰的军事行动。
乌军情报部门负责人指出，北韩向莫斯科提供弹药导致乌克兰防务面临巨大挑战，而俄罗斯至今仍在对乌克兰进行大规模入侵战斗已进入第三年。
这段关系的变化反映出朝鲜正在寻求新的平衡点和合作伙伴，并可能在与传统的盟友中国的关系上做出调整。
原文摘要：
North Korean leader sent Chinese President greetings with what appeared to be restrained rhetoric that comes as Pyongyang moves closer to Russia and depends less on its long-time Asian ally.Kim wished “the Chinese people greater success in building a modern socialist country,” in a reply message to Xi for his congratulations on North Korea’s birthday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday. The 190-word dispatch had little of the florid language that had been a staple of their correspondence, which has declined significantly this year, according to an analysis by Seoul-based specialist service NK Pro. It noted three references of back-and-forth mentioned in state media this year between Xi and Kim, compared to 10 in 2023. Descriptions of the bilateral relationship “are less exuberant,” NK Pro founder wrote in the analysis. The cooler and more restrained language in letters this year compared to 2023 “indicates a palpable distance in the once-warm personal relationship between the two leaders.”North Korea has often used the analogy of its ties to China being as close as “lips and teeth.” Its official media has frequently spoken of the “deep trust in and friendly feelings toward the fraternal people of China.” Kim, meanwhile, has increased his exchanges with Russia over the past year. The US and its partners said this has led to increased arms transfers, with Pyongyang sending millions of rounds of artillery and ballistic missiles to Russia to help President in his war on Ukraine.In exchange, Russia sent aid that has supported North Korea’s economy and helped Kim advance his weapons programs, Seoul and Washington. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the accusations despite evidence showing the arms transfers taking place.The artillery alone is likely worth several billion dollars and the aid from Russia could represent the biggest boost to North Korea’s economy since Kim took power about a dozen years ago.Read more: China has been North Korea’s biggest benefactor for large parts of the period after the end of the Cold War, providing an economic lifeline for Pyongyang.This month, Russia dispatched Security Council Secretary to Pyongyang for talks with Kim. North Korea later sent Foreign Minister to Russia for a rare trip abroad that included talks with her counterpart .Kim hosted Putin in June for the Russian leader’s first visit to Pyongyang in more than 20 years, where the two countries to come to the other’s aid if attacked. The North Korean leader also pledged to “unconditionally support” Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.Read more: Ukraine’s military intelligence chief has said supplies of North Korean ammunition to Moscow have been causing major headaches for his country’s defense, as Russia’s full-scale invasion grinds through its third year.
