Vietnam’s top envoys were on his way to North Korea on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to Pyongyang from February 12 to 14. Vietnam’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister Pham Binh Minh was on his way to the country.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Pham’s visit to Pyongyang comes just after weeks before the landmark second summit between the United States President Donald Trump and North Korean President Kim Jong-Un in Hanoi, Vietnam, scheduled to take place on February 27 and 28.
North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong-ho has invited Pham to Pyongyang, as reported by the agency. Pham was accompanied by five-member delegations which also consists of ministry’s protocol chief. A close aide to the North Korean ruler and director of the State Affairs Commission, Kim Chang-son was expected to visit Hanoi for the consultations with Vietnam’s authorities over several issues related to leader’s visit as well as protocol.
The source said, “After the Vietnamese foreign minister finishes prior coordination with North Korean officials during his visit to the North, the North and the U.S. may have discussions over protocol issues in Hanoi.”
Experts have said Kim was expected to visit Vietnam either after his second summit with Trump or before that happens. Though, if Kim visits Vietnam, it will be marked as the first North Korean leader’s visit to Vietnam over in 50 years.