(News Focus) N. Korea's Kim accelerates multilateral diplomacy on key party anniversary

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (2nd from L) stands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (L); To Lam, chief of Vietnam's Communist Party (2nd from R); and Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea on Oct. 9, 2025, in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) speaks to Chinese Premier Li Qiang during their talks in Pyongyang on Oct. 9, 2025, in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) toasts with To Lam, chief of Vietnam's Communist Party, during their talks in Pyongyang on Oct. 9, 2025, in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) speaks with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Pyongyang on Oct. 7, 2025, as the Lao official visited the North to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea, in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 8. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(News Focus) N Korea leader-diplomacy

(News Focus) N. Korea's Kim accelerates multilateral diplomacy on key party anniversary

By Park Boram

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- Following his high-profile debut in multilateral diplomacy in Beijing last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is using the 80th anniversary of the country's ruling party to accelerate efforts to broaden his diplomatic outreach, experts said Friday.

Observers assessed that Kim appears to be making all-out efforts to break out of his diplomatic isolation, building on the confidence gained when he debuted on the multilateral diplomatic stage by standing next to the Chinese and Russian presidents during a Beijing military parade on Sept. 3.

This week, Kim held a flurry of talks with foreign leaders, including China's premier and Vietnam's top leader, and senior officials invited to Pyongyang for celebrations marking the Oct. 10 anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.

On Thursday, Kim held talks with Vietnamese head of state To Lam and exchanged views on expanding the long-standing cooperative relations between their countries.

Lam's visit to North Korea marks the first trip by a top Vietnamese leader to North Korea since then Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh's trip in 2007.

Kim and Lam had "an open-minded exchange of views on the issues arising in ... expanding the long-standing cooperative relations ... as required by the times and other issues of mutual concern," North Korea's state media said.

Also on Thursday, Kim held separate talks with Li Qiang, China's premier considered the No. 2 in power.

The two discussed "issues arising in mutually expanding high-level visits, strategic communication, multi-faceted exchange and cooperation to develop the friendly and cooperative relations ... in a wider and comprehensive way," the Korean Central News Agency said.

The North Korean leader pledged to turn his country into a more affluent land and the "best socialist paradise" in the world during a ceremony in Pyongyang on the eve of the party anniversary, which was attended by Li, To Lam and Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and Russia's No. 2, as top foreign guests.

On Tuesday, Kim met with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation, as the Lao leader was visiting North Korea for two days on the occasion of the party anniversary.

The whirlwind of rare bilateral talks by Kim appears aimed at shedding the reclusive image Kim had long been associated with and at broadening his diplomatic outreach amid the shifting global security landscape, observers pointed out.

"After debuting on the multilateral diplomatic stage at China's military parade, Kim Jong-un is deftly utilizing the opportunity for multilateral diplomacy, afforded by the party's 80th anniversary," said Hong Min, a senior researcher at South Korea's Korea Institute for National Unification.

"He may go on to expand his scope for activities, possibly by joining multilateral organizations, including an economic security cooperation body," Hong predicted.

Kim's rare talks with the Vietnamese and Lao leaders may also signal North Korea's potential bid to deepen diplomatic engagement with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to experts.

During their talks, the Vietnamese leader was reported to have expressed his intent to enhance economic cooperation with North Korea and share his country's experience in the economic sector. The two sides also agreed to support each other in international organizations, including the United Nations and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Lam was accompanied, in particular, by Defense Minister Phan Van Giang on his visit to North Korea, in a sign of potential bilateral cooperation in the defense sector.

Observers warned that Kim's diplomatic outreach could come at the expense of international sanctions on the country, which prohibit defense and military cooperation with North Korea.

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