Vietnam’s Party chief to pay state visit to North Korea this week

The visit will be made at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The trip coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and North Korea.

This will be General Secretary Lam’s first visit to Pyongyang as Party chief, following his state visit to South Korea in August.

The visit is expected to reinforce the traditional friendship between the two countries, which was established by late President Ho Chi Minh and late President Kim Il Sung and strengthened through generations of leaders from both sides.

In January this year, top leaders of both countries exchanged congratulatory messages marking 75 years of diplomatic ties, affirming that the two Parties, governments, and peoples continue to value and promote the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and North Korea.

Both sides expressed their willingness to enhance bilateral collaboration across multiple fields, in line with international commitments and the aspirations of their peoples, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

The two countries also plan to organize a series of cultural and cooperative events in 2025 as part of the Vietnam-North Korea Friendship Year.

During a ceremony in Hanoi on October 2 celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, North Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Ri Sung Guk praised his country’s achievements under the leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea, led by Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un.

He highlighted the enduring friendship between the two Parties and governments, extending congratulations to Vietnam for its recent accomplishments and expressing confidence that the Communist Party of Vietnam, under General Secretary To Lam’s leadership, will successfully guide the nation toward its 2030 and 2045 development goals.

The last visit by a Vietnamese Party chief to North Korea was made by Nong Duc Manh in 2007, while Kim Jong Un visited Hanoi in 2019 for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and an official friendship visit.