North Korea fires 21-gun salute to welcome Vietnam’s Party chief To Lam in Pyongyang

The reception took place at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, where Kim and Lam reviewed an honor guard and watched a military parade, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Thousands of people waved the two countries’ flags and chanted slogans welcoming the Vietnamese delegation.

Banners on both sides of the grandstand read: “Warmly welcome Comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam” and “Long live the friendship and solidarity between the peoples of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Vietnam.”

The visit is To Lam’s first to North Korea in his current post and marks the first trip by a Party General Secretary to the country in 18 years.

It coincides with the two countries’ celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations, first established in 1950.

Speaking to local media ahead of the trip, Vietnam’s Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said the visit demonstrates the importance both parties and governments place on their traditional relationship.