SEOUL (Reuters). North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised Li Jinjun, the outgoing Chinese ambassador, for improving relations between Pyongyang, Beijing and Beijing. The state media report that Li Jinjun resigned on Thursday after serving seven years.

Choe Ryong Haie, a high ranking official of the Workers’ Party, relayed Kim’s remarks to Li, according to state media KCNA. KCNA reports that Li met also with North Korean Premier Kim Tok Hun.

Kim Jong Un highly appreciated the ambassador’s efforts to assist several DPRK/China summit meetings in the last seven years. He also expressed his appreciation for sharing bittersweets with the Korean people.” Choe said to Li using the initials North Korea’s official name.

Choe indicated that Kim is satisfied with how the North Korea/China relationship has reached a “new heyday” thanks to the leadership of both the ruling party in each country.

Li demanded Choe’s gratitude for Kim, and congratulated North Korean citizens on making “progress in all fields socialist construction,” KCNA reported.

China is North Korea’s main ally, since 1961. Since then, the treaty was signed. However, international sanctions against Pyongyang over its ballistic missile and nuclear weapon programmes and for trading have increased Pyongyang dependence on Beijing.

Li was elected in 2015. Relations have been rocky between both countries since then.

Kim sank China-North Korea relations into a historic low, prioritizing nuclear weapons and missiles production, and then harshly criticizing Beijing for supporting international sanctions

Kim was able to repair ties quickly and make his first international visit as leader in order to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi also visited Pyongyang in the second visit of a Chinese leader after 14 years.

Li was one among the decreasing numbers of foreign diplomats in Pyongyang. This is because many embassies had been closed under North Korea’s tight anti-pandemic lockdown, which blocked rotation of staff and ambassadors.