Kim Jong-un Says Happy Birthday to Xi

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on his 65th birthday in a message Friday amid signs that the relationship between the allies is mending fast.

North Korean state TV said that Kim sent a birthday message and flowers to Xi. "The continuous and meaningful meetings with comrade Xi Jinping strengthened the special camaraderie and trust and played an important role in advancing bilateral ties according to the latest trends," Kim was quoted as writing.

"Let us advance the bilateral friendship forged in blood so that it will be unshakable by political change and any other challenge."

The last time Kim sent Xi a birthday message was in 2013 before relations soured after Kim executed his uncle, who had been a trusted point man in relations with Beijing.

The South China Morning Post quoted U.S. and Chinese experts as saying that China fears losing its influence on the North and is wary of Washington and Pyongyang forming an anti-Beijing front.

"Apart from providing political backing for the North during upcoming negotiations with the U.S. and its allies, China is also expected to play a key role in helping Pyongyang emerge from its economic isolation and to renew security pledges in support of its cold war ally," the daily said.

It quoted pundit Taylor Fravel at MIT as saying, "China prefers a divided peninsula with a strong and prosperous North Korea over a divided peninsula with a weak and poor North Korea or a peninsula under South Korea that maintains its alliance with the United States."