June 24 is a meaningful day marking the 51 st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK) and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic(LPDR).

The DPRK-Laos relations of friendship and cooperation can be traced back to the historic Pyongyang summits between President Kim Il Sung , the great leader of the Korean people, and Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane, the esteemed leader of the Lao people, in October 1965 and July 1970. The bilateral relations entered a new phase of development with the establishment of diplomatic ties on June 24, 1974 between the government of the DPRK and Provisional Government of National Unity led by the Patriotic Front of Laos.

President Kim Il Sung had another meaningful meeting with Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane on his visit to Pyongyang in June 1977 after the foundation of the LPDR. President Kim Il Sung deepened rapport with him based on comradeship and revolutionary obligation, and extended unreserved support to and solidarity with the Lao people in their struggle for independence, justice and a new society

Comrade Kaysone Phomvihane, on his next visit to Pyongyang in April 1992, conferred on President Kim Il Sung the National Gold Medal – the highest order of Laos – in reflection of the unanimous desire of the Lao people.

Chairman Kim Jong Il and respected Comrade Kim Jong Un met with Comrade Choummaly Sayasone, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party(LPRP) and President of the LPDR, during his visit to the DPRK in September 2011. The meeting served as an occasion of historic significance for the continued development of the DPRK-Laos relations of friendship and cooperation, permeated with the devotion of the preceding leaders of the two countries, across various fields including politics, economy, culture, defense and security in the 21 st century.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the DPRK-Laos relations of friendship and cooperation have left beautiful memories and indelible traces in its annals. The bilateral relations are now advancing more dynamically along the trajectory of new development thanks to the deep care and meticulous guidance of respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, and esteemed Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the LPRP and President of the LPDR.

The Korean people will, as ever, continue to advance shoulder to shoulder with the Lao people along the road leading to significant progress of DPRK-Laos friendship and cooperation whose solidity and truth have been verified through generations and centuries during the hardships and challenges of history.

Korea-Asia Association