The Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was signed in Beijing on 11 July 1961, in duplicate, the Chinese and Korean texts being equally authentic. Plenipotentiaries: Zhou Enlai, Premier of the State Council, and Kim Il Sung, Premier of the Cabinet. It enters into force on the day of exchange of instruments of ratification, in Pyongyang: 10 September 1961. It remains in force until the Contracting Parties agree on its amendment or termination. It is not the Soviet–Korean treaty of the same month.

The preamble invokes mutual respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit. Article I: the Parties will continue to make every effort to safeguard the peace of Asia and the world. Article II, at framework level: jointly to adopt all measures to prevent aggression against either Party; if one is subjected to armed attack and thus involved in a state of war, the other shall immediately render military and other assistance by all means at its disposal. Deployment methods are not described.

Article III: neither Party shall conclude any alliance directed against the other, or take part in any bloc or in any action directed against the other. Article IV: consultation on all important international questions of common interest.

Article V: economic and technical aid, and economic, cultural, scientific and technical co-operation, on the principles in the preamble. Article VI: the unification of Korea must be realized along peaceful and democratic lines, in accordance with the national interests of the Korean people and the aim of preserving peace in the Far East.

Cover: the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the signing venue of the period; we do not claim the hall. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and North Korea; Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance (Peking Review / World and Japan).