Pyongyang: North Korea and China have emphasized their military friendship and unity during a banquet in Pyongyang celebrating the 98th anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), as reported by North Korea's state media.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the event, hosted by China's top envoy to Pyongyang, Wang Yajun, took place at the Chinese Embassy. Attendees included North Korean defense, foreign, and ruling party officials, alongside foreign delegates and defense attaches based in North Korea. This gathering reflects a slight warming of relations between the two countries after a period of cooler ties due to North Korea's close association with Moscow amidst Russia's conflict with Ukraine.

Participants at the banquet emphasized the combat friendship and unity between North Korean and Chinese militaries, expressing hopes for the ongoing development of the PLA, which celebrates its founding anniversary on August 1. North Korea has a history of sending congratulatory messages or hosting joint banquets with the Chinese Embassy to commemorate this occasion.

Earlier this month, North Korea and China conducted reciprocal receptions to mark the 64th anniversary of their mutual defense treaty, further indicating a strengthening of their bilateral relations.