North Korea fired 21 artillery rounds to solemnly welcome General Secretary To Lam.

General Secretary Kim Jong Un presided over a solemn welcoming ceremony for General Secretary To Lam at the Sports Palace in Pyongyang - Photo: VNA

The official welcoming ceremony for General Secretary To Lam was solemnly held by North Korea at the Pyongyang Sports Palace, chaired by General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un.

Vietnam News Agency described North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as welcoming General Secretary To Lam on a state visit. The two leaders then moved to the official line and introduced the participants in the welcoming ceremony, then walked up to the podium.

The military band played the national anthems of the two countries. A 21-gun salute was fired to welcome General Secretary To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.

General Secretary To Lam at Pyongyang airport on October 9 - Photo: VNA

On both sides of the stands were the words "Warm welcome to Comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam" and "Long live the solidarity and friendship between the people of Korea and Vietnam".

In the stands, thousands of people were present, joyfully waving the flags of the two countries and shouting to welcome General Secretary To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.

General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un welcomes General Secretary To Lam - Photo: VNA

General Secretary Kim Jong Un presided over a solemn welcoming ceremony for General Secretary To Lam at the Sports Palace in Pyongyang - Photo: VNA

General Secretary and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un then invited General Secretary To Lam to review the honor guard. After reviewing the honor guard, the two leaders returned to their positions of honor to witness the welcoming parade.

Vietnam and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 1950. The two sides chose 2025 as the Vietnam-North Korea Friendship Year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of relations.

This is the first visit to North Korea by General Secretary To Lam and the first by a head of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 18 years. The trip takes place on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

"This visit has many special meanings. It is Comrade To Lam's first visit to North Korea as General Secretary and the first state visit by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to North Korea in 18 years," Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu affirmed when answering the press before the visit.

The trip, taking place on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, according to Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, vividly demonstrates the importance that the two Parties and two States attach to the traditional friendship between Vietnam and North Korea.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/trieu-tien-ban-21-loat-dai-bac-chao-don-trong-the-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-20251009101736098.htm#content-1