What did Kim Jong-un say about North Korea’s relationship with Vietnam in his reply to To Lam?

Kim said the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries, which entered a new development period after their Pyongyang meeting last October, would further expand and develop in the common interests of their peoples.

Why did To Lam write to Kim Jong-un on September 9?

Lam sent the letter to mark the 78th anniversary of North Korea’s national founding. He said relations had strengthened since their summit and that both sides had carried out the leaders’ agreements.

What steps have North Korea and Vietnam taken to develop cooperation since To Lam’s visit?

In May, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in Pyongyang. The following month, the countries’ security ministers met there to discuss cooperation in public security and law enforcement.

N. Korea's Kim vows to deepen ties with Vietnam in reply to its leader Lam

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Summary

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to further develop ties with Vietnam in a reply to President To Lam, Pyongyang’s state media said Tuesday. Kim said the countries’ friendship and cooperation would expand in their common interests, building on their meeting in Pyongyang last October. Lam had written to Kim on Sept. 9 to mark North Korea’s national founding anniversary. The two countries have since held diplomatic and security talks.

Key Facts

Kim sent his reply on Monday, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Lam said in his letter that bilateral relations had strengthened steadily since the summit and that both sides had carried out the leaders’ agreements.
Lam said Vietnam was ready to work with North Korea for regional and global peace and stability.
Lam’s October visit was the first by a top Vietnamese leader to North Korea in 18 years.
In May, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in Pyongyang, and the countries’ security ministers held talks there the following month.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 27, 2026 8:31 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 leader Kim Jong-un has pledged to deepen his country's ties with Vietnam in a reply to President To Lam, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday.

Lam sent a letter to Kim on Sept. 9 to mark the 78th anniversary of North Korea's national founding.

"The traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, which entered a new development period after our Pyongyang meeting last October, will further expand and develop in the common interests of the two peoples," Kim wrote in his reply sent Monday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Lam, in his last month's letter, said relations had strengthened steadily since the summit and that both sides had carried out the leaders' agreements. Vietnam, he added, was ready to work with North Korea for regional and global peace and stability.

Ties between the two countries have warmed since Lam's October visit, the first by a top Vietnamese leader to the North in 18 years.

In May, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung met his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui, in Pyongyang. The following month, the two countries' security ministers held talks there on cooperation in public security and law enforcement.

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