Two Koreas harden war-era alliances 70 years after combat ended

North hosts China, Russia delegations; South invites foreign veterans

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, is taking a hard line against the regime of North Korean leader Kim Yong Un. (Source photos by Reuters and AP)

STEVEN BOROWIEC, Nikkei staff writer

July 27, 2023 11:54 JST

Updated on July 27, 2023 17:44 JST

SEOUL -- The two Koreas on Thursday marked a key anniversary of the agreement that stopped combat in the Korean War, using gestures that show how the conflict's legacy continues to shape the countries' diplomatic and security postures.

North Korea hosted delegations from China and Russia, part of ongoing efforts to draw closer to those Cold War-era allies. In Pyongyang, leader Kim Jong Un led Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on a tour where he displayed ballistic missiles and other heavy weaponry.