KPA Delegation Meets Lao President and Returns Home

Lao President Choummaly Sayasone (R) meets with VMar Ri Yong Ho, chief of the KPA General Staff and Presidium Member of the KWP Political Bureau on 11 May 2012 (Photo: KPL)

DPRK and Lao state media reported on 11 May (Friday) that a Korean People’s Army [KPA] delegation headed by VMar Ri Yong Ho, chief of the KPA General Staff, met with Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.  KCNA reports:

Choummaly Sayasone, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on Friday met and had a friendly talk with the DPRK high- ranking military delegation headed by Vice Marshal of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the KPA, which paid a courtesy call on him.

Choummaly Sayasone said that the friendly relations between Laos and the DPRK provided by President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Kim Il Sung have a long history.

These friendly relations have grown stronger thanks to leader Kim Jong Il, he noted.

He underlined the need to make positive efforts to deepen the friendship between the armies of Laos and the DPRK in the future.

VMar Ri Yong Ho shakes hands with an LPA official prior to departing Laos for the DPRK on 11 May 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

VMar Ri and the KPA delegation departed for the DPRK on their chartered plane later in the day.  KCNA reports:

The DPRK high-ranking military delegation headed by Vice-Marshal of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the KPA, left Vientiane on Friday after visiting the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos.

A farewell ceremony was held for the delegation before leaving.

During its stay in Laos the delegation toured Kaysone Phomvihane Military Academy, a power station, etc.

KPA Delegation Meets Lao Prime Minister

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong (R) talks with VMar Ri Yong Ho (L), chief of the KPA General Staff and Presidium Member of the KWP Political Bureau, on 9 May 2012 (Photo: KPL)

DPRK and Lao state media reported on 10 May (Thursday) that a Korean People’s Army [KPA] delegation led by VMar Ri Yong Ho (Ri Yo’ng-ho), Chief of the KPA General Staff, met Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on Wednesday (9 May).  KCNA reports:

Laos highly appreciates the achievements made by the party, government and army of the DPRK in building a thriving socialist nation and defending the country under the wise leadership of the great leaders, said Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong when receiving the DPRK’s high-ranking military delegation.

The delegation headed by Vice Marshal of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the KPA, paid a courtesy call on the prime minister of Laos on Wednesday.

At the meeting, Thongsing Thammavong, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, said the DPRK delegation’s visit provided an important opportunity of boosting the friendly relations between the two armies.

Leader Kim Jong Il developed the friendly ties between Laos and the DPRK provided by President Kim Il Sung, the prime minister noted.

The dear respected Kim Jong Un pays much attention to the development of the bilateral friendly relations, he added.

 Also, the same day, the KPA delegation met with Lao Vice Minister of Defense Sanyahak Phomvihane and other Lao People’s Army officials.

Attending the meeting were members of the high ranking military delegation headed by chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho and the DPRK ambassador to Laos from the DPRK side and members of the Lao military delegation headed by Vice-Minister of Defense Sanyahak Phomvihane from the Lao side.

The two side exchanged views on further developing the friendly relations between the armies of the two countries and matters of mutual concern.

There was a welcome ceremony for the DPRK military delegation at the building of the Lao defense ministry on the same day.

The DPRK delegation laid a wreath before the Monument to Unknown Soldiers.

The Lao Ministry of Defense and the LPA also hosted a reception for the KPA delegation

Present there on invitation were members of the delegation led by Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, and the DPRK ambassador to Laos.

Also attending the reception were Vice-Minister of Defence Sanyahak Phomvihane, a deputy director of the General Political Department and the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Laotian People’s Army and other military officials.

An art performance was given by artistes of Laos at the reception.

KWP’s 66th Birthday

The Korean Workers’ Party turned 66 on 10 October (Monday).  A delegation of senior party, army and government leaders visited the Kumsusan Memorial Hall, to pay their respects to Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-song).  Concerts and dance parties were held in Pyongyang and the provinces.  DPRK elites and citizens visited KIS statues to offer floral tributes.  Due to ongoing construction in the Mansudae area in Pyongyang, floral tributes to the KIS Statue have been moved to the campus of KIS University.

KIS University President and Minister of Higher Education, Song Ja Rip (R) places a floral bouquet at the foot of the KIS statue on the university's campus on the 66th anniversary of the Korean Workers' Party (Photo: KCNA)

KCNA reports that Pyongyang had “a festive mood”:

Streets are decorated with WPK and national flags, red banners and placards reading “Celebration of October 10″ and “Great Party, Motherly Party.”

Many people visit statues of President Kim Il Sung on Ryongnam Hill and in other places of the city with floral baskets and bunches in their hands.

The Party Founding Museum and the Party Founding Memorial Tower are crowded with people.

Through the visit they learn more about the feats the President performed in founding the WPK and developing it into a popular party based on the working masses.

The Mansudae Art Troupe, National Symphony Orchestra and other art troupes are busy with preparations for celebration performances.

Mass media have introduced feats of the three commanders of Mt. Paektu — President Kim Il Sung, leader Kim Jong Il and anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong Suk — in party building and party activities, as well as achievements made by the Korean people in socialist construction.

Pyongyangites participate in a dancing party on the plaza in front of Pyongyang Indoor Statdium (Photo: KCNA)

The Lao Embassy in the DPRK hosted a reception on 8 October (Saturday) to commemorate the KWP’s anniversary, as well as the recent visit to the DPRK by Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.  CC KWP Secretary and Director of International Affairs, Kim Yong Il (Kim Yo’ng-il) attended the event on behalf of the central leadership.

Chaleune Warinthrasak said in his speech at the reception that the friendly relations between Laos and the DPRK provided by Kaysone Phomvihane and President Kim Il Sung have a long history.

The current meeting between Choummaly Sayasone and leader Kim Jong Il was a great event in boosting the bilateral relations, he noted.

The Lao party, government and people will make positive efforts to boost the relations between the two countries.

Kim Yong Il noted in his speech that the meeting between Kim Jong Il and President Choummaly Sayasone served as a historic event which demonstrated the vitality of the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Laos.

He referred to the positive struggle waged by the Lao people to defend the socialist gains, consolidate the people’s democratic system and strengthen the state power as a whole.

Kim Jong Il received an anniversary message from embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:

The message said: Allow me to extend heartfelt congratulations, on behalf of the leadership of the Baath Arab Socialist Party, the Syrian Arab people and myself, to you, the leadership of the WPK and the fraternal Korean people on the 66th birthday of the WPK. And please accept my best wishes for successes of you and members of the leadership of your party in their work as well as for the Korean people’s progress and prosperity.

I, availing myself of this good opportunity, would like to express belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between Syria and the DPRK will continue to grow stronger in the interests of the peoples of the two friendly countries.

Kim Jong Il has yet to take the time celebrate the party’s 66th anniversary.  Having returned from a brief excursion to South Hamgyo’ng, he has conducted several on-the-spot-guidance tours north of and east of Pyongyang.  After visiting a synthetic leather factory in P’yo’ngso’ng, a daily necessities factory in Raknang, Pyongyang, and the Central Tree Nursery  north of the capital city, KJI inspected a “newly built” factory that produces solar equipment.  During last year’s party anniversary, KJI ferried his successor and son, Kim Jong Un, through several events, including a KPA parade in KIS Square.  Last year’s anniversary included a visit by PRC senior official Zhou Yongkang.  Despite a lack of senior Chinese officials visiting the DPRK for this year’s party anniversary, PRC support for the country remains strong.  Tokyo Shimbun reports that the two countries will hold joint search-and-rescue (SAR) exercises in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) some time next year.

A 10 October 2011 KCTV image of Kim Jong Il visiting a solar equipment factory near Pyongyang. Also seen in attendance is NDC Member and director of the party's 2nd Machine-Building Industry Department, Ju Kyu Chang (R) (Photo: KCTV-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Il Meets with Laos President

A commemorative photograph of Lao President Choummaly Sayasone (C) with Kim Jong Il (R) and Kim Jong Un (L) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Il met with Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.  In addition to the Lao officials accompanying Mr. Sayasone, joining the meeting and dinner reception from the DPRK were Chief of the KPA General Staff VMar Ri Yong Ho, CC KWP Secretary and Department Director Kim Yong Il, NDC Member and CC KWP Secretary Pak To Chun, NDC Member and CC KWP Department Director Ju Kyu Chang, and KJI’s hereditary successor, Kim Jong Un.  The presence of Pak To Chun and Ju Kyu Chang suggest that part of the meeting may have included weapons sales or exchanges between the DPRK and Laos.

A commemorative group photograph of Kim Jong Il's meeting and reception for Lao President Choummaly Sayasone. From the DPRK, standing in the 2nd row, are Ju Kyu Chang (L), Kim Yong Il (2nd L), Ri Yong Ho (3rd R) and Pak To Chun (L) (Photo: KCNA)

Lao President Choummaly Sayasone presents gifts to Kim Jong Il (Photo: KCNA)

Saysone, who also heads his country’s ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, arrived in the DPRK on Wednesday, 21 September, after visiting China.  During his visits, the DPRK central leadership held a reception for him where he interacted with SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam (Kim Yo’ng-nam), CC KWP Secretary Choe Tae Bok (Choe T’ae-pok) and others.  KCNA reports:

Kim Yong Nam made a speech at the reception.

He said the Lao president’s DPRK visit marked a very important occasion in boosting the unity and friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and peoples which were forged in the common struggle for socialism against imperialism.

He went on: The friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and peoples provided by the leaders of the elder generation have grown stronger under the deep care of leader Kim Jong Il and Choummaly Sayasone.

The WPK and the people of the DPRK sincerely wished the LPRP and the people of Laos more admirable successes in their efforts for attaining the task and goals advanced at the 9th Congress of LPRP.

The WPK and the DPRK government will make positive efforts to constantly develop the friendship and cooperation with the LPRP and the people of Laos in the road towards socialism against imperialism.

Choummaly Sayasone, speaking next, highly estimated with pleasure that the fraternal Korean people are registering great achievements in the drive for achieving the prosperity of the socialist country and improving the standard of people’s living following the juche idea and the songun idea under the banner of self-reliance under the leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea headed by Kim Jong Il, holding President Kim Il Sung, the eternal leader.

He was convinced that the fraternal Korean people would make greater successes in building a thriving socialist nation and accomplishing the cause of national reunification on the principles of independence, peace and great national unity.

He expressed deep thanks to the fraternal party, government and people of the DPRK for having rendered precious cooperation to the struggle of the Lao people for national salvation in the past and their national defence and construction at present on behalf of the Lao party, state and people.

We will in the future, too, defend and strengthen the traditional friendly and cooperative relations, the good and precious heritages, which were provided by Kaysone Phomvihane, president of the Lao people and Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people, and have been carried and expanded by the leaders of the new generation, he stressed.

Lao President Choummaly Sayasone talks with Kim Jong Il during a dinner reception (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Visiting Laotian President Choummaly Saygnasone (L), escorted by Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, inspects an honor guard after arriving at the airport in Pyongyang on Sept. 21. The (North) Korean Central News Agency released the photo on Sept. 22 without elaborating on his itinerary. (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Sayasone’s arrival in the DPRK was greeted with editorials in Rodong Sinmun and Minju Choson.  KCNA also published a biographical profile on Sayasone, which in part read:

He took part in revolution in 1954 and joined the Lao People’s Party, the predecessor of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, in 1955.

He received military and politico-theoretical education in Vietnam and the former Soviet Union.

He was a political commissar of a battalion and battalion commander, chief of staff and commander of the force stationed in Xiengkhouang area, the liberation area from 1962 to 1975.

He worked as director of the Combat Department of the Lao Ministry of Defence and deputy chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army and vice-minister of Defence from 1976.

He was appointed as first vice-minister of Defence in 1986 and minister of Defence in August of 1991.

He was elected vice-president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 2001.

Sayasone led one of several delegations visiting Pyongyang this week.  Sayasone arrived on the same day as a delegation of ROK religious leaders.  On 20 September a number of foreign academics (primarily from China and Russia) arrived in the DPRK for a symposium held to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Kim Il Sung University.  A delegation from The Netherlands led by Ambassador Paul Alex Mankveld arrived on 21 September.  Mankveld attended an event commemorating the 10-year anniversary of NL-DPRK diplomatic relations.

Laotian People’s Army Delegation Visits DPRK

Chief of the KPA General Staff and co-Vice-Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, Ri Yong Ho (front row, 5th L) poses for a photograph with a visiting delegation of the Laotion People's Army (Photo: KCNA)

A delegation of the General Staff of the Laotian People’s Army visited the DPRK from 27 to 29 July.  The delegation met and had a commemorative photograph taken with Chief of the KPA General Staff, Ri Yong Ho (Ri Yo’ng-ho).  The Laotian delegation’s primary interlocutor and host during their stay was Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (Pak Chae-kyo’ng).  Pak visited Laos in March of this year in a tour of southeast Asian countries.  KCNA reports:

Talks between a military delegation of the Korean People’s Army and a delegation of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army took place in Pyongyang on Thursday.

Present there from the DPRK side were Pak Jae Gyong, vice-minister of the People’s Armed Forces, generals and officers of the KPA and from the Lao side members of the delegation of the General Staff of the Laotian People’s Army led by Chief Sanyahak Phomvihane and Chaleune Warinthrasak, Lao ambassador to the DPRK.

At the talks both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly relations between the armies of the two countries and on matters of mutual concern.

KCNA reported on the welcoming ceremony for the LPA delegation:

A delegation of the General Staff of the Laotian People’s Army led by Chief Sanyahak Phomvihane arrived here Wednesday.

A ceremony to welcome the delegation took place in front of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Memorial Tower.

The Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces hosted a reception in honor of the delegation.

Pak Ui Chun Arrives in Myanmar

North Korea's Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun at Rangoon's landmark Shwedagon Pagoda. (The Irrawaddy)

DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun arrived in Myanmar (Burma) on Thursday (29 July), and toured the Shwedagon Pagoda.  This was the first visit by a DPRK Foreign Minister since the countries severed diplomatic relations in 1983 after the Rangoon bombing.  The countries re-established formal relations in 2007.  Irawaddy points out that former MOFA Vice Minister (and current CC KWP International Department Director) Kim Yong Il made the DPRK’s last official visit in November 2008.

AFP reports:

North Korea’s foreign minister arrived in Myanmar on Thursday for talks with the junta, an official said, amid Western concerns about possible nuclear cooperation between the two autocratic nations.Pak Ui Chun landed in Yangon, where he was expected to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda before travelling to the capital Naypyidaw on Friday to meet his counterpart Nyan Win, the Myanmar official said, asking not to be named.

Full details of Pak’s schedule were not immediately available, but he was expected to stay in the military-run state until Sunday.

Irawaddy reports on Pak’s arrival and about DPRK-Myanmar interactions:

North Korea’s last official visit to Burma was in November 2008, when Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Young Il and his Burmese hosts signed a free visa agreement for diplomats and official passport holders.

Pak was scheduled to tour the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon before traveling on Friday to the ruling junta’s capital of Naypyitaw, where he will meet his Burma counterpart, Nyan Win, and other senior government officials, reported The Associated Press.

After Burma, Pak will fly to Indonesia for the Special Ministerial Meeting for the Millennium Development Goals, to be held on August 3-4 in Jakarta.

North Korea is one of Burma’s main military partners, supplying the Burmese regime with strategic weapons technology, such as missiles, rocket launchers and underground facilities. Recent revelations about a nascent nuclear weapons program in Burma have also raised concerns about possible involvement by Pyongyang.

As noted above, the DPRK and Myanmar have an ongoing relationship that includes military sales and exchanges, as well as technical and information exchanges.  Irawaddy reported on the possibility that DPRK military advice now extends to mechanized combat, light infantry and civil defense.

The junta’s objective is better mobilization of light infantry troops and other lines of strategic defense such as artillery forces, air defense forces and missile forces, a source said.

“Like the the North Korean army, the junta wants the ability to deploy its forces, including multiple launch rocket systems, canons and air defense units, quickly to the front line. Then all would be re-deployed to bases in tunnels and caves,” said the source. “That’s why the junta is upgrading its vehicle depot forces.”

Sources said the junta upgraded its Motor Vehicle Depot Battalions in October 2009 to achieve the ability to rapidly deploy troops. The upgraded vehicle battalions are reportedly based in Shwe Taung in Pegu Division, Shwe Nyaung in southern Shan State, Taung Dwin Gyi in Magwe Division, Amarpura in Mandalay Division and Mingaladon in Rangoon Division.

The recent information from military sources provides more evidence of ties between Naypyidaw and Pyongyang, adding to that already available after a report was leaked in 2009 about a 2008 memorandum of understanding between the Tatmadaw and the Korean People’s Army covering joint military exercises and North Korean assistance in military training, air defense and constructing underground facilities and arms shelters.

The Burmese junta is tapping the North Koreans for more than just advice. They are also allegedly importing nuclear technology and strategic weapons such as anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles and multiple launch rocket systems for the Tatmadaw’s Air Defense and Missile forces.

Hein Latt's biography of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has raised objections within Pyongyang's embassy in Rangoon. (The Irawaddy)

The Myanmar regime also quietly flexed its muscle on a Burmese biographer who wrote a book on Kim Jong Il.  Hein Lett and his publisher turned over “several hundred copies” of his KJI tome to the DPRK Embassy (where he conducted research):

The author of a Burmese biography of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his publisher have handed over to the North Korean embassy in Rangoon several hundred copies of his book after embassy officials complained it contained inaccuracies.

The controversial book, “Kim Jong Il: North Korea’s Dear Leader,” was written by one of Burma’s leading biographers, Hein Latt. It was launched in Burma two months ago, but has sold few copies, according to Hein Latt.

“The North Korean Embassy called me and told me some facts in the book are not correct,” Hein Latt told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.Hein Latt said the embassy had challenged “facts and structure related to the Korean People’s Army,” but had not identified the alleged inaccuracies.

Hein Latt said he had handed over his copies of the book to the North Korean Embassy to avoid any problems with the Burmese authorities.

Prior to his arrival in Myanmar, Pak Ui Chun visited Laos from 25 to 28 July.  KCNA reported:

Talks between Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister of the DPRK, and Thongloun Sisoulth, vice-prime minister of the government of Laos and foreign minister, were held in Laos on July 26.

Present there from the DPRK side were the party of the foreign minister and the DPRK ambassador to Laos and from the Lao side officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos.

At the talks both sides informed each other of the situation in their countries and exchanged views on the issue of boosting the bilateral friendly relations and matters of mutual concern.