Why did North Korean Vice Defense Minister Ryo Chol-ung travel to Vietnam?

The report did not specify the purpose of the trip or the delegation’s itinerary. It said only that the visit took place amid deepening cooperation between North Korea and Vietnam.

What recent North Korea-Vietnam exchanges led up to Ryo Chol-ung’s visit?

The article says Kim Jong-un recently reaffirmed ties in a letter to President To Lam, and that Vietnam’s foreign minister visited the North in May. It also says the two countries’ security ministers held talks in Pyongyang the following month.

How have North Korea and Vietnam deepened bilateral relations in recent months?

The two sides have moved steadily closer since the October summit, when To Lam became the first top Vietnamese leader to visit North Korea in 18 years. The article also says the countries have held foreign minister and security minister talks and exchanged messages of support.

N. Korea's vice defense minister departs for Vietnam amid deepening ties

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Summary

North Korean Vice Defense Minister Ryo Chol-ung has departed for Vietnam as Pyongyang and Hanoi deepen cooperation. The delegation left Pyongyang the previous day, according to state media. The report said no details were given on the itinerary or purpose of the trip. The visit follows recent exchanges, including Kim Jong-un’s letter to President To Lam and security talks in Pyongyang.

Key Facts

The delegation was led by Vice Defense Minister Ryo Chol-ung and left Pyongyang the previous day.
Vietnam’s ambassador to North Korea and the embassy’s defense attache saw the delegation off, according to KCNA.
The report gave no details on the delegation’s itinerary or the purpose of the trip.
Earlier this month, Kim Jong-un sent a letter to President To Lam marking Vietnam’s 81st founding anniversary.
In May, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung visited North Korea for talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 23, 2026 9:18 am KST

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, and Vietnamese head of state To Lam attend a banquet in Pyongyang following their talks, Oct. 9, 2025, in this photo provided by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

North Korean Vice Defense Minister Ryo Chol-ung has departed for Vietnam, state media reported Wednesday, amid deepening cooperation between the two nations.

A delegation, led by Ryo, left Pyongyang the previous day, seen off by defense ministry officials, Vietnam's ambassador to North Korea and the embassy's defense attache, the Korean Central News Agency said.

The report gave no details on the delegation's itinerary or the purpose of the trip.

The visit comes as Pyongyang and Hanoi have stepped up efforts to deepen bilateral relations.

Early this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening mutual ties in a letter to President To Lam, marking Vietnam's 81st founding anniversary.

The two countries have been moving steadily closer since the October summit. Lam's visit at that time marked the first by a top Vietnamese leader to North Korea in 18 years.

In May, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung visited the North for talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui.

The following month, the two countries' security ministers held talks in Pyongyang to discuss ways to expand cooperation on public security and law enforcement.

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