North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the enduring legacy of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) ahead of its 80th founding anniversary, calling for renewed loyalty to socialism as foreign delegations from China, Russia, and Vietnam arrived in Pyongyang for grand celebrations.
Among the key visitors are Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam symbolizing Pyongyang’s deepening ties with its socialist allies. The rare diplomatic gathering underscores North Korea’s effort to strengthen partnerships amid growing isolation and global sanctions.
According to China’s Foreign Ministry, Li Qiang was received with a guard of honour and highlighted the “profound traditional friendship” between China and North Korea, describing them as socialist neighbours bound by geography and ideology. Vietnam’s To Lam was welcomed at a Pyongyang sports centre in the first such visit by a Vietnamese party leader in nearly two decades. Both sides are expected to sign new cooperation agreements during the visit, according to Vietnamese officials.
The Russian delegation, led by Medvedev and including senior officials such as Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov and the governor of Kursk region, met with North Korean leaders to reinforce political and military cooperation. A joint statement issued during the visit saw Pyongyang voicing full support for Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine, while Russia thanked North Korea for its backing and humanitarian aid to the Kursk region.
In his commemorative address at the Party Founding Museum in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un honoured his grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung, crediting him and early revolutionaries for laying a “solid cornerstone” for the party’s lasting strength. Kim urged the current generation to renew its revolutionary spirit and safeguard the ideological purity of the party “without decline or discolouration.”
State media KCNA described the event as a “significant moment of reflection,” emphasizing Kim’s call to preserve the WPK as a “sacred symbol of national pride and socialist unity.”
While North Korea has not officially confirmed a military parade for the anniversary, South Korean intelligence suggests preparations are underway for a large-scale event in Pyongyang. Last month, Kim stood beside China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin at a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, highlighting his growing visibility on the international stage.
The celebrations mark a pivotal moment for Kim Jong Un as he seeks to solidify domestic unity, enhance foreign alliances, and project power and legitimacy amid ongoing tensions with the West.
