Vietnam's top leader to visit N. Korea to mark key party anniv.: KCNA

▲ This file photo shows Vietnam's top leader, To Lam. (Yonhap)

Vietnam-N Korea

Vietnam's top leader to visit N. Korea to mark key party anniv.: KCNA

SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- Vietnam's top leader, To Lam, will visit North Korea to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the North's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, state media reported Monday.

The Vietnamese leader will pay a state visit to the North at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the occasion of the party anniversary set for Friday, the Korean Central News Agency reported in a short dispatch.

It would mark the first trip to North Korea by a Vietnamese leader in 18 years.

Vietnam and North Korea have maintained close diplomatic relations since establishing ties in 1950.

North Korea is expected to hold a large-scale military parade to celebrate the party anniversary. The South Korean military earlier said the North may stage a nighttime parade involving tens of thousands of personnel.

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