Vietnamese Secretary General to Make State Visit to North Korea... Attending Workers' Party 80th Anniversary Event

Tot Rum, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the country's top leader, will visit North Korea to attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on October 6, Secretary Tot Rum will make a state visit to North Korea at the invitation of Chairman Kim Jong Un and participate in the 80th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.

This marks the first visit to North Korea by Vietnam's highest leader in 18 years, since then-Secretary General Nong Duc Manh visited in 2007.

Vietnam and North Korea have maintained close diplomatic relations since establishing ties in 1950, and in celebration of the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, both countries have declared this year as the "Year of Friendship."

Tot Rum, Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Speaking

(Busan=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Sungje = Tot Rum, Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who is on a state visit, is delivering a greeting while meeting with Park Hyungjun, Mayor of Busan, before attending the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Busanjin-gu, Busan Lotte Hotel on August 13, 2025. psj19@yna.co.kr (End)

With the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea coming up on October 10, North Korea is preparing grand commemorative events, including a large-scale military parade and mass gymnastics, to mark this milestone year, which falls on a major anniversary (every 5 or 10 years).

Since the beginning of the year, North Korea has sent invitations to high-ranking officials from various countries, and it is known that many have expressed their intention to attend.

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia and Chairman of the United Russia Party, who is considered a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has also announced plans to attend the celebrations.

Additionally, North Korea officially announced on October 2 that Thongloun Sisoulith, President of Laos, will visit North Korea to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.