Kim Jong-un congratulates Xi on re-election

ArrayPyongyang:North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping for his re-election as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, the state-media said on Thursday.

Kim applauded Xi for the successful conduct of the 19th Congress of the CPC, through a message sent on Wednesday, in which he wished the President well in pursuing the objectives laid down during the event, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report said.

In his message, the North Korean leader said that the Chinese people had initiated the development of their own model of socialism, in what he called a new era led by the CPC Standing Committee with Xi at its helm, Efe quoted the report as saying.

Kim, who is also the chairman of the Workers Party of Korea, said he was sure that relations between the two parties and countries will develop in line with the interests of the people of both countries.

Relations between the two historic allies are strained after the recent weapons tests by the North Korean regime, including its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 7 and launch of two intercontinental missiles, which have led to new, stronger sanctions by the UNs, with China's support.

China, which Pyongyang depends on for practically all of its trade, has also imposed separate measures like shutting down North Korean companies that have a presence in Beijing, a general ban on textile imports from Pyongyang and limits on its supply of petroleum.