Gen. Pak Yong Sik Meets with Lao President and Defense Minister

Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Pak Yong Sik and a delegation of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] met with the Laos President Choummaly Sayasone and Lao Defense Minister Sengnouane Sayalat on November 22 (Monday). Ahead of their meetings, the KPA delegation attended a welcome ceremony and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the Unknown Solider.

Attending the KPA delegation’s meeting was DPRK Ambassador to Laos Ri Sang Chun, along with the deputy director of the Lao People’s Armed Forces [LPAF] General Political Bureau, the Lao People’s Armed Forces Vice Chief of the General Staff and other senior Lao defense officials. According to KCNA, the KPA and LPAF “discussed the issues of boosting cooperation between the armies of the two countries.”

Gen. Pak Yong Sik and the KPA delegation also met with Lao President Choummaly Sayasone. President Sayasone, who was the first foreign leader that officially met Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) back in 2011, recalled that visit and remarked that “the army and people of the DPRK are achieving signal successes in the national defense, in the struggle to defend socialism and the building of a thriving nation thanks to the wise leadership of Kim Jong Un.” He also noted, according to KCNA, “that the two countries are supporting each other in the regional and international arenas and closely cooperating in the struggle for defending socialism, he stressed that Laos would support the cause of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the government, service personnel and people of the DPRK for achieving the reunification of the country and building a thriving socialist nation.” According to Lao state media, President Sayasone “welcomed the delegation’s visit which contributes to the development of relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries especially in the field of national defense.”

The KPA delegation will be in Laos until November 25 (Wednesday).