The first visit by Vietnam's leader to Pyongyang in nearly two decades reflects Hanoi's balancing strategy and North Korea's bid to broaden ties beyond China, though numerous constraints limit how far ties can deepen beyond certain symbolic steps. From Oct. 9-11, Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam visited Pyongyang at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, marking the first Vietnamese leader-level trip since 2007 and only the second since 1950. The visit coincided with the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), around which Pyongyang organized a series of large-scale commemorations and diplomatic events. During his visit, Lam received a formal welcome ceremony, including a 21-gun salute and held high-level talks with Kim. The two leaders committed to deepen exchanges across party, parliamentary, governmental and local levels; broaden cooperation in sectors such as culture, education, health, tourism and information and communications; and intensify...
