Pyongyang: China's top envoy to North Korea has made a significant visit to a prominent taekwondo facility in Pyongyang, emphasizing the importance of sports exchanges between China and North Korea. The visit aims to foster closer ties through the traditional Korean martial art, taekwondo.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang confirmed on Monday that Chinese Ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, toured the Taekwondo Hall in Pyongyang on Saturday. During the visit, he received a briefing from the North Korean taekwondo governing body regarding the current state of taekwondo development in the country. The ambassador also witnessed a demonstration performance, showcasing the martial art's progress and significance.

In a related development, North Korea's representative to the United Nations made a bold statement on Thursday, asserting that the country is not bound by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) under any circumstances. Kim Song, Pyongyang's top diplomat to the U.N., condemned certain countries, along with the United States, for criticizing North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons. He defended DPRK's stance, emphasizing its sovereign right to exercise self-defensive measures, as reported by the North's Korean Central News Agency.