Vietnam and North Korea Agree to Strengthen Defense Cooperation

Vietnam and North Korea have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the defense sector. According to a statement from Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense, vice-ministerial talks between the two countries affirmed the importance of defense collaboration as part of their traditional friendship. Vietnamese Vice Minister of National Defense Nguyen Truong Thang met with North Korean Vice Minister of National Defense Ryo Chol Ung on September 24 in Hanoi. Thang stated that defense cooperation between the two nations has yielded "many positive results" and is a key area of focus for the leadership of both countries. During the talks, "positive results" were reported in areas such as exchanges of delegations at various levels, party affairs, political activities, and education and training. However, specific details regarding these achievements were not disclosed. Mr. Ryo praised the traditional relationship between the ruling parties, states, and armed forces of both countries and exchanged views on several matters related to bilateral defense cooperation. Both sides confirmed their commitment to implementing the contents of a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation signed between the two defense ministries in 2025. Vietnam and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 1950 during the Cold War. Both nations are among the few countries governed by communist parties, alongside China, Cuba, and Laos. Last month, Vietnam announced plans to build a memorial and renovate a cemetery for North Korean soldiers who died during the Vietnam War. According to the People's Army Newspaper, Thang had then affirmed that Vietnam "always cherishes and remembers the effective assistance from North Korea and the sacrifices of Korean martyrs in the past struggle for national independence." Information regarding the direct participation of North Korean soldiers in the Vietnam War has been relatively scarce. It was not until 2000, 25 years after the end of the Vietnam War, that Pyongyang and Hanoi first confirmed that North Korean pilots had participated in combat, defending against US Air Force bombing raids in North Vietnam. Source: BBC Vietnamese