On October 9, 2025, a grand welcoming ceremony was hosted in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), by Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, for the state visit of To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation. This visit is taking place at a significant time as the two nations commemorate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 'Year of Friendship 2025', clearly demonstrating the importance of the bilateral relationship.

Grand Welcoming Ceremony and Historical Significance 

The welcoming ceremony was held on Thursday morning in Pyongyang, and a 21-gun salute was fired in honor of General Secretary To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation. General Secretary Kim Jong Un and General Secretary To Lam listened to the national anthems of both countries and inspected the honor guard from the review stand, showcasing their firm friendship. Hundreds of North Korean officials and residents turned out as a welcoming crowd, and large slogans reading "Warmly welcome General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam" and "Long live the friendship and solidarity of the peoples of Korea and Vietnam" were displayed on both sides of the review stand, adding to the festive atmosphere.

North Korea was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) in 1950. The traditional friendship between the two nations has been maintained through the efforts of President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung, as well as several generations of leaders from both countries. North Korea provided unwavering support during Vietnam's national liberation struggle, and Vietnam has consistently stood by North Korea in times of hardship. This historical bond had once become somewhat distant after Vietnam established diplomatic ties with South Korea, but it has been recovering since the 2000s and was further solidified by General Secretary Kim Jong Un's visit to Hanoi in 2019.

 Deepening Relations Through the 'Year of Friendship' 

General Secretary To Lam's current visit comes as both countries have designated this year as the 'Year of Friendship 2025' and are celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. This symbolically shows that the two parties and two states value their long-standing relationship. The Vietnamese side also demonstrates a consistent foreign policy of cherishing its relationship with traditional friendly countries.

This summit is a crucial opportunity for the supreme leaders of both Parties and countries to discuss and agree on a strategic direction. In particular, they are expected to deeply explore ways to inherit and promote the traditional friendly relationship in the new era, strengthen bilateral cooperation in line with relevant international regulations, and thus meet the aspirations and hopes of the two peoples. It is anticipated that the two countries will sign concrete agreements to expand exchange and cooperation through this meeting, raising expectations for future relationship development. The significance of General Secretary To Lam's visit as the highest leader of Vietnam is particularly profound, as it is the first such visit in 18 years since General Secretary Nong Duc Manh's visit in 2007.

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