North Korea and Laos held a foreign ministers' meeting in Pyongyang and pledged to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
On the 13th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that the previous day in the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Laos Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thongphane Savanphet held talks.
According to the agency, the two countries discussed "the matter of thoroughly implementing the agreements achieved by the leaders of the two countries in October and further strengthening and developing the traditional friendship between Korea (North Korea) and Laos." It added that they "exchanged opinions on issues to tighten mutual support and cooperation on the international stage and reached a consensus."
North Korea appears to have reaffirmed its diplomatic channel with Laos, a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and discussed a strategic alignment to secure support for North Korea's position on the international stage.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Sang-gil attended the meeting. After the talks, North Korea held a welcome banquet for the Lao delegation. Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Minister Thongphane Savanphet each gave speeches emphasizing the two countries' commitment to expanding cooperation.
The agency said, "The banquet proceeded in a friendly atmosphere. The participants raised their glasses to the constant strengthening and development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries."
This foreign ministers' meeting is seen as a follow-up to last month's summit between Kim Jong-un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith. At the time, the Lao leader attended the event celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's Labor Party and said that he "discussed issues arising in strengthening mutual cooperation" with Kim Jong-un.
North Korea and Laos have maintained close ties as socialist states since establishing diplomatic relations in June 1974.