China envoy touts traditional ties with North Korea

Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Li Jinjun has paid tribute to the Chinese soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, touting traditional ties with wayward ally North Korea, according to China's state-run media Saturday.

Li made the remarks as he visited a cemetery of the Chinese war dead in the border city of Kaesong on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported from Pyongyang.

North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un laid a wreath at a cemetery of Chinese war dead earlier this week in the wake of the 62nd anniversary of the end of the war.

"The historic contribution made by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army to maintaining peace and the China-DPRK (North Korea) friendship will leave an indelible mark on history," China's foreign ministry said in its first official response to Kim's tribute, "

   The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, when tank-led North Korean troops invaded South Korea. The United States and 20 other allied countries fought on the side of South Korea under the United Nations flag, while Chinese soldiers came to North Korea's aid. The conflict ended in a cease-fire on July 27, 1953.