A Vietnam defense ministry delegation is in North Korea on a rare visit to boost cooperation, the ministry has announced on its website.
The visit has raised eyebrows as it takes place just days after North Korea revealed the first images of centrifuges used for enriching uranium at a production base for weapons-grade nuclear material.
North Korea is also under U.N. Security Council sanctions for its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
On Thursday, Vietnam's deputy defense minister, Senior Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, held a bilateral meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Lt. Gen. Kim Min Sop.
The two sides “exchanged views on the current situation in the world and the region, as well as in both countries,” the Vietnamese ministry said, adding that they shared information about their countries’ defense policies.
“Defense cooperation is one of the important aspects of the bilateral relations,” the ministry said.
The officials agreed that Vietnam and North Korea would continue exchanges on multiple levels and strengthen cooperation in military medicine, border defense, defense industry, military technology and information sharing.
‘Misleading signals’
Chien invited Kim to visit Vietnam in December for the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Vietnam People’s Army and its second International Defense Expo from Dec. 19-22.
International weapons suppliers showcase their products at the expo, which is seen as an attempt by Hanoi to diversify its sources of imported arms.
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, had not reported on Chien’s visit at time of publication.
Analysts said the visit carried risks for Vietnam.
“To be honest, I am quite puzzled by the move,” said a Vietnamese analyst who wished to remain anonymous as he is not authorized to speak to foreign media.
“This trip can send very misleading signals about Vietnam’s intention, especially as defense minister Phan Van Giang has just visited the United States,” he said.
The new general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, To Lam, is expected to address the U.N. General Assembly in New York later this week.
“Vietnam wants to be friends with everyone but as a responsible member of the international community, it shouldn’t be seen as contradicting U.N. sanctions in any way,” the analyst warned.
Nguyen The Phuong, a defense analyst at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said Vietnam was unlikely to procure weapons from North Korea.
“Beside the quality problem, violating U.N.'s sanctions regarding North Korea would be disastrous,” he said.
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For years China has been North Korea’s sole main ally but it has been boosting its foreign friendships in recent months.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin on a visit in June when they announced a partnership treaty, agreeing to offer each other military assistance “without delay.”
The U.S. says North Korea has provided Russia with large amounts of weapons for the war in Ukraine, which both North Korea and Russia deny.
Long history
Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK – as North Korea is officially known – have a long history of friendship and cooperation. In 2025, they will celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
North Korea was an ally of the then North Vietnam during the Vietnam War and provided substantial economic and military assistance, including weapons and ammunition.
North Korea reportedly transferred to Vietnam a number of midget submarines and missiles during the 1990s.
Vietnam-North Korea ties, however, have weakened in recent years as Hanoi and Seoul strengthened their cooperation, especially in investment and business.
South Korea has become one of Vietnam’s most important partners and in 2022 they elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest tier of bilateral cooperation.
“Vietnam should bear in mind the risk of jeopardizing the relations with Seoul,” the Hanoi-based analyst said.
Some Korean analysts, such as Kim Young-sun, a former secretary general of the ASEAN-Korea Center, said that defense cooperation requires the highest levels of trust between countries and South Korea should consider carefully any plan to transfer arms to Vietnam.
Edited by Mike Firn.