Vietnamese Leader Nong Duc Manh Visits North Korea
According to a press release from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Secretary Nong Duc Manh reached the Pyongyang International Airport in North Korea's capitol at 2:00 PM on Tuesday. A welcoming ceremony was held at the airport, and North Korean leader and Worker's Party of Korea General Secretary Kim Jong-il immediately met him as he left the airplane. The Vietnamese and North Korean leaders reviewed a guard of honor, and both nations' national anthems were played by a band. A twenty-one gun salute took place as well. The visiting Vietnamese officials were greeted by thousands of Koreans wearing traditional clothing and waving flags of both nations. Nong Duc Manh later visited the Kumsusan Palace and placed a wreath at the statue of former President Kim il-Sung.
Another press release, apparently issued by the Vietnamese ruling party and carried by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site, reviewed relations between the two countries during previous decades. It referred to various treaties and agreements which have been signed, assistance provided, and international trade, mentioning that their diplomatic relations were established in late January, 1950. It pointed out that Vietnam exported $32,000 worth of products to North Korea in 1994, and imported $13,800,000 worth. It also indicated that N. Korea assisted in the training of hundreds of Vietnamese students during the '60s and '70s.
Vietnamese and North Korean media outlets both covered the visit thoroughly. The Nhan Dan newspaper in Vietnam published a news story on it, as well as a positive editorial regarding the visit. The editorial referred to the fact that it is the first visit to N. Korea by a CPV General Secretary during the past fifty years. It pointed out the "many similarities" between the two nations and thanked the North for its "valuable support" to Vietnam in the past and present, while espousing the belief that the people of North Korea would obtain "greater achievements" and eventually bring about national reunification. The North's official Korean Central News Agency released six news reports regarding the visit, indicating that the Vietnamese leader also met with high-ranking North Korean official Kim Yong Nam.
Sources:
1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns071017100558
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CPV), http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns071017095829
3. Nhan Dan, http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/news/161007/editorial_e.htm
4. KCNA, http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm
Published by Z. Perry
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