Monument to North Korean People's Army veterans erected in Hanoi, Vietnam

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Eunjung Lee = A monument honoring North Korean People's Army veterans will be erected in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 28th that the unveiling ceremony for the military statue-themed plaque installed on the military statue of Korean People's Army soldiers to be built in the outdoor exhibition area of ​​the Vietnam Military History Museum was held on the 25th.

A Ministry of Defense delegation led by North Korean Vice Minister of National Defense Ryeo Chol-woong, who is visiting Vietnam, and North Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Lee Seong-guk participated in the unveiling ceremony.

On the Vietnamese side, Nguyen Truong Thanh, Vice Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, Le Quang Ming, Deputy Director of the General Political Bureau of the Vietnam People's Army, and officials of the Vietnam Military History Museum were present.

During the Vietnam War between 1966 and 1969, North Korea dispatched 200 to 400 airmen, including 90 pilots, and is known to have shot down 26 U.S. military planes in aerial combat.

With the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army lined up on both sides of the commemorative military statue, Vice Minister of National Defense Ryeo Cheol-woong and Vice Minister of National Defense Nguyen Truong Thanh unveil the unveiling, revealing a plaque with the phrase "Vietnam-North Korea Friendship."

The commentary board said, “North Korea contributed to the victory of the Vietnamese revolution by supporting the Vietnamese people both materially and spiritually during the anti-American struggle for national salvation and by dispatching experts to help.”

In addition, the phrase “the fighting spirit and sacrificial spirit displayed by the Korean soldiers is a noble and beautiful symbol of great international unity.”

Flower baskets and bouquets with the phrases ‘Pay tribute to the soldiers of the Korean People’s Army’ and ‘Presented by the Ministry of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’ were also placed on the sculpture.

The North Korean Ministry of Defense delegation also visited Bac Ninh City in northern Vietnam, where the People's Army Martyrs Memorial Area was created, and laid flowers at the memorial.

North Korea established a 'blood alliance' when it established diplomatic relations in January 1950. Relations cooled in 1978 due to Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia's pro-China regime and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam, but relations greatly recovered in 2019 when Chairman Kim Jong-un made an official visit to Vietnam for the North Korea-US summit.

In October last year, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Lam made a state visit to attend the 80th anniversary event of the founding of the Workers' Party, which served as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Vietnam.

The Ministry of Defense delegation departed from Pyongyang on the 22nd and visited Vietnam, a traditional socialist ally, expanding its military and diplomatic efforts.