The friendly feelings between the peoples of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), which were formed and tended by the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung and Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane, esteemed leader of the Lao people, continue to run through centuries and generations.

10 years ago, on September 23, 2011, the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il together with respected Comrade Kim Jong Un had a meaningful meeting with Comrade Choummaly Sayasone, former General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of the LPDR, and Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith, the then Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao government and Chairman of the Committee for the External Affairs of the LPRP who had accompanied the former.

Historic meeting on this day served as a historic milestone of great magnitude in further expanding and developing the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries as required by the new times.

On this meaningful occasion, the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il expressed the unwavering will of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and the DPRK government to actively develop the relations of friendship and cooperation in conformity with the noble will of the preceding leaders of the two countries and the desire of the two peoples.

Comrade Choummaly Sayasone expressed his heartfelt thanks to the WPK, the DPRK government and to the fraternal Korean people who gave both material and moral assistance to Lao people in their national salvation struggle and in the building of a new society in the past and continue with their valuable support even today. He also emphasized that it is the steadfast will of the Party, state and people of Laos to maintain as ever and to strengthen and develop further the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between Laos and the DPRK.

There is a saying that “Ten years are enough to change mountains and rivers”. However, the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, which are permeated with the great devotion by the preceding leaders, continue to be maintained firmly without being affected by the change of the times. And they are now entering into a new phase of development amid the deep attention of Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the WPK, and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK and Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the LPRP and President of the LPDR.

The traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Laos – the precious legacy provided, consolidated and developed by the preceding leaders – will continue to be maintained and developed on the road of struggle for the victory of the socialist cause in the future, too.

Pak Jong Hak

Chairman of Korea-Asia Association