North Korea's 80th Ruling Party Anniversary: Global Participation

Beijing, Oct. 9 (AP) – North Korea is set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its ruling party this Friday, with various foreign dignitaries and leaders expected to participate in the event.

Celebrating the Workers' Party anniversary offers North Korea an opportunity to reinforce its relationships with key global partners and allies, notably China and Russia, which are sending high-level representatives.

North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has long regarded China as his country’s primary ally. In recent years, he has also cultivated ties with Russia, notably supporting Moscow by dispatching troops to assist in its conflict with Ukraine.

In September, Kim Jong Un was seen alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Beijing, attending a grand military parade to commemorate the conclusion of World War II.

While specific plans for the commemoration have not been disclosed, several foreign dignitaries have started arriving in the country.

Here are some of the distinguished leaders and high-level representatives expected to attend:

China's Premier Li Qiang: Premier Li Qiang arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, on Thursday, as reported by the official Xinhua News Agency. Li’s visit marks the highest-level visit by a Chinese leader since 2019. As one of the seven members of the Standing Committee of China's Communist Party Politburo, Li holds significant power in China. He is generally considered the No. 2 leader after President Xi Jinping and has been actively involved in representing China at significant international events, such as the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Russia's Former President Dmitry Medvedev: Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and current deputy head of the Security Council chaired by Putin, is set to attend the anniversary celebrations, according to North Korea’s official KCNA news agency. North Korea has strengthened its cooperation with Russia, supplying both combat troops and ammunition to support Russia’s ongoing conflict against Ukraine.

Vietnam's Top Leader To Lam: To Lam, the General Secretary of the Communist Party in Vietnam and the nation’s top leader, arrived in North Korea on Thursday for the celebrations, as reported by Vietnamese state media. To Lam holds an equivalent leadership position to Kim Jong Un in North Korea’s Workers’ Party. The visit aligns with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Laos' President Thongloun Sisoulith: The President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, is also scheduled to attend, as reported by KCNA last week. He serves as the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

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