North Korea, Vietnam vow to strengthen defence ties

North Korea and Vietnam have announced plans to deepen their defence cooperation during talks in Hanoi this week.

According to Vietnam’s defence ministry, during the meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Ryo Chol ​Ung, who was part of a visiting defence delegation, some positive results were achieved.

As per the issued statement, “Within the overall framework of the traditional friendship ​between Vietnam and the DPRK (North Korea), defence cooperation has always ​been a key area receiving attention and active promotion from the Party, State, and military leadership of both countries.”

Both sides vowed to strengthen bilateral collaboration between two countries including exchanges of delegations, political work, education and training. They also called on implementing a defence cooperation letter of intent signed in 2025.

Vietnam and North Korea share a long-standing alliance that dates back to the Cold War, anchoring two of the world's five remaining communist governments (alongside China, Cuba, and Laos).

Continuing this historical partnership, Vietnam revealed plans last month to build a dedicated memorial and upgrade a cemetery for North Korean servicemen who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.