In a congratulatory message sent on 23/2, General Secretary To Lam expressed confidence that under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, the Workers’ Party of Korea and its people will continue to achieve great accomplishments in national development, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. General Secretary To Lam affirmed Vietnam's readiness to work with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to foster substantive and effective cooperation between the two Parties and nations in the coming period.

DPRK leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on 19/2. Photo: KCNA

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong-un was re-elected as General Secretary at the 9th congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea on 22/2, the fourth day of the event. KCNA stated this re-election reflects the "unwavering will and unified aspiration of all delegates" at the congress.

Under Kim's leadership, the nation's war deterrence capability, with nuclear forces as its backbone, has significantly improved, the news agency emphasized. KCNA further asserted that Kim Jong-un has enhanced the nation's prestige, created a favorable international environment for its revolutionary struggle, and transformed its army into an "elite, powerful" military force.

During his opening speech at the 9th congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea on 19/2, Kim Jong-un outlined the ruling party's "historic, urgent task": to strengthen economic construction, improve people's living standards, and transform all areas of social and state life "as soon as possible".

The DPRK was one of the earliest nations to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, following only China and the Soviet Union. This traditional friendship was fostered by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kim Il Sung, and subsequent generations of leaders from both countries. The DPRK supported Vietnam during its national liberation struggle, training hundreds of Vietnamese students in the 1960s and 1970s. Vietnam has consistently supported the DPRK during difficult times.

General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary, Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on 9/10/2025. Photo: VNA

During General Secretary To Lam's state visit to the DPRK in 10/2025, which included attending the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the two nations signed cooperation documents across diplomacy, defense, health, news agency, and trade. At that time, General Secretary To Lam affirmed Vietnam's readiness to share experiences with the DPRK on economic reform, external economy, and information regarding economic management policies, import-export, and socio-economic development. He also expressed a desire for both sides to expand cooperation in promising areas such as culture, sports, tourism, education, health, and information communication, including developing radio and television programs to introduce the culture, country, and people of each nation.

Ngoc Anh