Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, conveyed to President Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos his intention to strengthen friendly, cooperative relations between their countries across all sectors.
The party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Wednesday that Kim had sent this message in a letter to President Sisoulith on October 19, in response to the president’s earlier congratulatory note on the 80th anniversary of the party’s founding.
Kim stated that he sincerely thanks him for the warm congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of our party’s 80th anniversary.
He further added that he’s confident that the long-standing friendly and cooperative relationship between the two parties and nations will continue to strengthen and develop in all areas, in line with the agreements reached during the recent meeting in Pyongyang.
Kim also extended his best wishes for success in President Sisoulith’s future endeavors.
President Sisoulith visited North Korea on October 7, meeting with Kim and pledging to boost bilateral cooperation, marking the first visit by a Laotian leader to North Korea in 14 years.
While North Korea has traditionally focused on its ties with Russia and China, it is now expanding its diplomatic outreach to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations, including Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia, coinciding with the 80th anniversary celebrations of the party’s founding.