A corner of Pyongyang.

Under the leadership of the WPK — established by Chairman Kim Il Sung on October 10, 1945, and continued by leaders Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un — the DPRK people have achieved important results in building and defending the socialist country.

This includes significant progress in infrastructure, mining, heavy industry, healthcare, and education during the 1960s and 1970s; as well as overcoming numerous challenges, especially regarding energy and food shortages, since the 1990s.

Despite many challenges caused by sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, the 8th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in January 2021 reaffirmed the task of successfully building socialism. It focused on restructuring the economy, enhancing national defence capabilities, promoting scientific and technological development, and comprehensively improving foreign relations.

The congress set out the five-year national economic development plan for the 2021–2025 period, emphasising the spirit of “self-dependence and self-sufficiency”, prioritising the development of the metallurgical and chemical industries, with a strong focus on agriculture.

Following the policies adopted at the 8th Congress, the WPK has led the DPRK people to make great efforts, gradually overcoming difficulties and continuing to achieve progress in defence and industry.

The party and state have prioritised socio-economic development through a “people-centred” policy, continuing to address urgent livelihood issues such as housing and food security. They have implemented the 20x10 Local Development Policy, which aims to build 20 modern factories per year over a 10-year period to reduce regional development disparities and seeks to complete construction of 50,000 free housing units for workers in Pyongyang during the 2021–2025 period.

In 2022, 10,000 homes were built in the districts of Songsin and Songhwa. Between 2023 and April 2025, 30,000 houses were completed in Hwasong District. The final phase of the project, involving another 10,000 houses in Hwasong, began in February and is expected to finish by the end of this year.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam on January 31, 1950.

Over the past 75 years, the traditional Viet Nam–DPRK friendship, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Kim Il Sung, has always been valued by the two parties, states, and peoples, and has been continuously strengthened and developed. Both sides have maintained mutual support and assistance in their respective struggles for national liberation and socialist construction.

During Viet Nam’s war of resistance against the US, the DPRK supported Viet Nam materially and spiritually. The DPRK provided equipment and machinery, helped train students and interns, and sent pilots to Viet Nam.

For their part, the Viet Nam people have repeatedly supported the DPRK people with tens of thousands of tonnes of rice. Among fields of cooperation, agriculture has been a highlight. Viet Nam’s agricultural experts have assisted their DPRK counterparts in mastering advanced techniques in rice breeding and cultivation, contributing to recent abundant harvests.

The traditional friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and the DPRK have continued to be consolidated and developed in recent years, marked by the important milestone of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un’s official friendship visit to Viet Nam in early March 2019.

Since the beginning of this year, the two countries have organised a series of activities within the framework of the Viet Nam–DPRK Friendship Year, celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

When visiting the DPRK in 1957, President Ho Chi Minh stated that although Viet Nam and the DPRK are far apart, their hearts are very close, stressing that the two countries are closely bonded by brotherly affection.

DPRK pilots shed their blood for Viet Nam. Not only did Viet Nam’s rice help the DPRK people overcome food shortages during bad harvests, but Viet Nam’s agricultural experts have also helped DPRK farmers gradually ensure food security for themselves.

This deep affection will never be forgotten by the two countries’ parties, states, and peoples; it will always be cherished, preserved, and continually nurtured.