Pyongyang (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – According to North Korean state media KCNA on Saturday, North Korea and Vietnam signed cooperation agreements on cooperation in numerous sectors, which included the ministries of defence, foreign affairs, and health.
To Lam, the chief of the Communist Party, led a delegation to North Korea this week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party.
Kim Jong Un supervised a major military parade where he showcased his new intercontinental ballistic missile to visiting international dignitaries, according to state media KCNA. The parade, which started late on Friday, commemorated the 80th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers’ Party and took place after the celebrations on Thursday.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam were also seen standing with Kim during the parade, with other foreign dignitaries observing.
What new cooperation agreements were signed between the two nations?
According to reports, the arrangements between Vietnam and North Korea include a cooperation agreement between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs, a letter of intent on defence cooperation between their Ministries of National Defence, and an MoU on health and medical science cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and North Korea’s Ministry of Public Health.
The Vietnam News Agency reported that the two other agreements include the MoU between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce of North Korea, as well as a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam News Agency and the Korean Central News Agency.
Moreover, during their discussions on Thursday, Lam and Kim Jong Un agreed to advance Vietnam-North Korea relations to a new stage of more practical and effective cooperation, as stated by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides are committed to strengthening high-level exchanges, keeping dialogue channels open, and exploring potential areas for cooperation.
When was the last time a Vietnamese leader visited Vietnam?
Nong Duc Manh, the Vietnamese party chief, was the last leader of the Vietnam Communist Party to visit North Korea in 2007, prior to 2025. It was the first visit of a Vietnamese Party Chief to North Korea in 50 years, since 1957 with Ho Chi Minh.
The purpose of the trip was to renew and nurture the historical friendship and economic cooperation of the two nations. During the visit of Nong Duc Manh in 2007, there was a formal meeting with the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il.
