Vietnam's Top Leader To Lam to Visit North Korea for Key Anniversary
To Lam, Vietnam's top leader and Communist Party chief, is scheduled to visit North Korea this week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the North's ruling Workers' Party of Korea. The visit, marking the first by a Vietnamese leader in nearly two decades, underscores the ongoing diplomatic ties between the two nations. The event is set to include a significant military parade.
Historical Significance of the Visit
The three-day visit, commencing on October 9th, takes place at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It coincides with the planned military parade in Pyongyang on October 10th. This event marks 80 years since the founding of the ruling Workers' Party. Vietnam's foreign ministry has confirmed the visit.
Delegation and Diplomatic Ties
The Vietnamese delegation will include Defence Minister Phan Van Giang and other senior officials. This visit reaffirms the historical connections between the two communist states, which are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2025. Despite ideological similarities, there are currently no formal trade relations between Vietnam and North Korea.
Past Engagements and Future Prospects
The last Vietnamese leader to visit North Korea was Nong Duc Manh in 2007. He followed in the footsteps of the late President Ho Chi Minh, who first visited Pyongyang in 1957. In 2019, Kim Jong Un traveled to Hanoi for a summit with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting Vietnam's role as a potential diplomatic bridge. Also, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, will visit North Korea this week to attend the event. The upcoming visit is viewed as a part of Hanoi’s broader outreach in the Korean Peninsula at a time of renewed geopolitical activity in East Asia.
Regional Context
Lam's visit follows his August trip to South Korea, where he was the first foreign leader hosted by President Lee Jae Myung since he took office in June. South Korea is preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit later this month in Gyeongju. This summit could potentially include meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
