This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteers’ involvement with the “Fatherland Liberation War” (aka Korean War). The Chinese army intervened when the U.S.-led coalition advanced northward very close to the Yalu/Amrok River 鸭绿江/암록강, putting the Communist China in a precarious position (this was when much of the world community did not see Beijing as a legitimate government, and the U.N. membership for China was still held by the KMT in Taipei). The Chinese troops participated in the war under the name of “Chinese People’s Volunteers” 中国人民志愿军 although they consisted entirely of the People’s Liberation Army 中国人民解放军 soldiers. This was primarily done to avoid over-provoking the U.S. by “officially” participating in the war. Hence it was packaged as though individual Chinese PLA soldiers voluntarily went to Korea and fought under the command of the Korean People’s Army (KPA). In reality, however, the CPV was operating as part of the PLA.

In commemoration of this event, North Korean media have been on lovefest with China during the past week. Much of the news programming on the Korean Central Television (KCTV) has been devoted on this topic, with special propaganda music videos extolling the DPRK-China relationship and a trailer of the latest movie Hyeongje eui jeong 형제 의 정 (The Brotherly Bond) that depicts the Chinese cooperation in the Korean War.

Today, the People’s Republic of China is perhaps the only major country that sides with the DPRK; and is the largest trading partner for North Korea.

조중친선 朝中親善 의 노래

(“Song of the Korean-Chinese friendship”)

우리는 미더운 형제 (兄弟) 피로써 맺은 진우 (親友) 들 조중친선 (朝中親善) 뜨거운 정을 가슴마다 지녔다 공동 (共同) 의 목적 (目的) 을 위 (為) 해 손과 손을 잡고서 친선 (親善) 의 노래부르며 발결음 맞춰나간다

준엄한 싸움의 날도 우리는 함께 있었네 헤처갈 시련(試練) 의 날도 우리 함께 가리라 혁명(革命) 의 의리(義理) 를 지켜 반함없이 언제나 단결(団結) 의 노래부르며 발걸음 맞춰나간다

하나로 이어진 마음 세월(歳月) 이 갈수록 깊어라 굳게 뭉친 우리의 힘 폭풍도 가르지 못하리 두 나라 강산(江山) 에 꽃핀 조중 친선(朝中親善) 의 노래 연원(永遠) 히 높이 부르며 발걸음 맞춰나간다

두 나라 강산에 꽃핀 조중 친선의 노래 연원히 높이 부르며 발걸음 맞춰나간다