North Korea's ruling party delegation concludes trip to China, Vietnam, Laos

A North Korean delegation, led by Kim Song-nam, right, director in charge of international affairs at the Workers' Party, departs Pyongyang for visits to China, Vietnam and Laos in this file photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, March 21.

North Korea's ruling party delegation has departed Laos, state media said Tuesday, wrapping up a three-nation trip apparently aimed at strengthening traditional ties with countries sharing the socialist ideology after years of the pandemic lockdown.

The delegation, led by Kim Song-nam, director of the international department at the North's ruling Workers' Party, departed Vientiane on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, without providing further details.

Kim left Pyongyang on March 21 for the trip that also took him to China and Vietnam. It marked his first overseas trip since 2021, when he was appointed to the post handling party-to-party affairs with socialist countries.

In China, Kim met with Wang Huning, a member of the standing committee of the political bureau of the Chinese Communist Party, and Liu Jianchao, minister of the party's international liaison department.

He also discussed bilateral ties with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as the countries mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year.

In Vietnam, Kim met with Le Hoai Trung, secretary of the central committee and head of the central committee for foreign affairs at Vietnam's Communist Party, where they reached a consensus on boosting cooperation and advancing their bilateral ties to a new level, the KCNA earlier said.

Kim met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, head of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party's external relations committee, and paid a courtesy visit to Thongloun Sisoulith, the secretary general of the Communist Party, during his visit to Laos.

The trip came as North Korea appears to be resuming diplomatic activity with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), following years of Pyongyang's COVID-19 border shutdowns.

Laos plans to host the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and other ASEAN-related meetings as this year's chair country. The annual ARF is the sole regional forum joined by North Korea.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

It also came after South Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba in February, a surprise move for Pyongyang, which has long boasted brotherly ties with the Caribbean country. (Yonhap)