Vietnam congratulates new DPRK Premier, sends sympathy over flood damage

	North Korea says no more talks with U.S. just so Trump can boast
	DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-un desires stronger ties with Vietnam
	Vice President: Vietnam treasures friendship with DPRK

Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) established diplomatic relations in 1950. Source: Internet

Earlier the same day, Kim Tok Hun was designated as Premier by Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK Kim Jong-un to replace Kim Jae Ryong. He had served as the head of the parliamentary budget committee before the appointment.

He also offered a message of sympathy to his DPRK counterpart over serious damage caused by recent floods in the country.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also cabled a similar message to DPRK Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Son Gwon.

The DPRK has seen unusual heavy rains since August 1, resulting in flooding in some provinces of the country. According to the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), 39,296 hectares (97,100 acres) of crops were ruined nationwide and 16,680 homes and 630 public buildings destroyed or flooded. It said many roads, bridges and railway sections were damaged and a dam of power station gave way.

During a key ruling party meeting on August 13, the DPRK leader expressed sympathy with people who were at temporary facilities after losing their houses to floods and called for swift recovery efforts so that none is "homeless" by the time the country celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea's founding on October 10.

"The situation, in which the spread of the worldwide malignant virus has become worse, requires us not to allow any outside aid for the flood damage but shut the border tighter and carry out strict anti-epidemic work," KCNA cited Chairman Kim Jong Un as saying.

According to Pyongyang Times, he has inspected the flood-stricken Taechong-ri in Unpha County, North Hwanghae Province and took detailed measures to stabilize the living of residents as early as possible.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a ruling party meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, Aug. 13 2020. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Since Vietnam and the DPRK established diplomatic relations in 1950, the traditional friendly relationship between the two countries, built up by President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Kim Il-sung, has been continually nurtured by generations of leaders and the people of the two countries, reported Nhan Dan newspaper.

President Ho Chi Minh visited the DPRK in 1957. Many senior Party and State leaders of Vietnam have also visited the DPRK. Similarly, Chairman Kim Il-sung and many other senior DPRK leaders have visited Vietnam.

The two countries signed many important agreements on cooperation in culture, science-technology, trade and maritime cooperation, civil air transport. During the 1960s and 1970s, the DPRK helped Vietnam train hundreds of students. The DPRK’s Education Commission and Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training are pushing for the signing of an educational cooperation agreement. Since 2013, Vietnam has sent an art troupe to the DPRK once every two years to attend the April Spring Friendship Art Festival in Pyongyang.

Vietnam and the DPRK have a long history of engaging in cultural exchange. The two countries’ people supported and helped each other in their respective struggles for national liberation and national construction. Vietnam has affirmed its support for the DPRK’s efforts to develop its economy and improve the people’s standards of living while highly appreciating positive progresses on the Korean Peninsula and standing ready to make contributions to the dialogue process to establish long-term peace and peacefully resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

2018 marked 60 years since the first Vietnam visit by the late Chairman Kim Il-sung and the two countries celebrated 70 years of diplomatic ties in 2020. Chairman Kim Jong Un has paid an official friendship visit to Vietnam, marking a new historic milestone in the relationship between the two Parties and countries./.

Vietnam, DPRK urged to further foster judicial cooperation Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh has suggested that Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) should tighten and consolidate judicial cooperation in ...

Vietnam, DPRK strengthen traditional friendship relations through art exchange A Vietnamese art delegation has visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and joined in art activities in the country from April 11-16 at ...

Vietnam welcomes DPRK-US summit outcomes Vietnam welcomes and highly values outcomes of the summit between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the U.S. which took place in Singapore ...