North Korea is orchestrating free trips to Pyongyang for Chinese residents living in the North and Korean-Chinese people as part of efforts to cement its relations with China, a media report said Monday.

An informed source in the North's North Pyongan Province told U.S.-based media Radio Free Asia (RFA) that the North is holding a commemorative event in its capital for Chinese people residing across the country.

"The event, a tourist one involving Pyongyang's tourist attractions, is aimed at rewarding the Chinese community for its participation in the recovery of regions along the Tumen River hard hit by flooding," the source was quoted as saying by the RFA.

The floods along the river between North Korea and China two months ago left hundreds of people dead or missing and about 70,000 others homeless, international organizations have said.

The source said some of Chinese residents in the North's town of Rongchon bordering China came back from the Chinese border town of Dangdong several days ago, earlier than scheduled, after being informed of the event. The RFA stopped short of reporting when the event will be held.

According to the source, an event for Chinese people has been held in Pyongyang annually but "it is the first time for the North to bring in Chinese residents who are out of town so that they could join." 

The North Korean authorities, who are holding the event to express their appreciation for Chinese people giving support to the North's efforts in restoring floods-devastated areas, are mulling taking the Chinese people to such attractions as Pyongyang Central Zoo, the Mirae Scientist Street, the Tower of Juche idea and the Okryugwan Restaurant.

Another source in Pyongyang told the U.S. broadcaster that the North is organizing tourist events to provide Korean-Chinese people in the neighboring country with free trips to Pyongyang in a bid to publicize its purported superiority of the North's system and the economic development of their fatherland.

The RFA said North Korea has been relying on propaganda activities for its system to address the international community's distrust in the country and to leave intact its relations with its most important ally. (Yonhap)