The atmosphere is cool at the foot of the Friendship Tower in the heart of Pyongyang on October 25. In their dark apparatchik suits, diplomats from the French embassy in China sing their national anthem in front of the granite monument commemorating the entry of the “volunteer” soldiers from Mao in the Korean War, seventy-four years ago.

But no representative of the North Korean host is present at the foot of Moran Hill to celebrate brotherhood. “ communist “ in the face of “ the aggressor “ American, contrary to tradition.

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Kim Jong-un merely sent a wreath, without even deigning to send any officials to the ritual celebration of the alliance forged “in blood” with Beijing, to the rescue of his grandfather Kim Il-sung, who was overwhelmed by General MacArthur’s forces in 1950. This solitary celebration is yet another indication of the diplomatic chill prevailing…