Kim Jong Un lauds ruling party's legacy at 80th anniversary celebrations

Li is second-in-command to China’s President Xi Jinping, and his attendance marks Beijing’s highest-level visit to Pyongyang since 2019

Reuters China's Premier Li Qiang (left) walks beside a smiling Kim Jong Un down a white marble-clad hallway inside a building in Pyongyang. An entourage of officials follows behind them. Everyone is dressed in black suits. — Li is second-in-command to China’s President Xi Jinping, and his attendance marks Beijing’s highest-level visit to Pyongyang since 2019

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un lauded his country’s “international prestige” as celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of its ruling party kicked off.

The authoritarian state has rolled out the red carpet for high-ranking officials from ally countries, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev.

While it faces “ferocious political and military pressure” from adversaries, North Korea’s “international prestige… as a faithful member of the socialist forces” is growing day by day, Kim said on Thursday.

Photographs on state media show a beaming Kim welcoming foreign dignitaries and an evening display of fireworks, among other festivities.

An evening display of fireworks kicked off celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling party

Reuters A display of fireworks during an event at North Korea's May Day stadium, marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea — An evening display of fireworks kicked off celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling party

Leaders from other socialist states, such as Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam and Laos’s President Thongloun Sisoulith are also in North Korea to celebrate the Workers’ Party’s anniversary.

Some analysts say this year’s celebrations highlight the heavily-sanctioned Pyongyang’s growing diplomatic ties.

The presence of China’s Li, for example, “shows goodwill in line with the restoration of North Korea-China ties“, Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul told the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Li is second-in-command to China’s President Xi Jinping, and his attendance marks Beijing’s highest-level visit to Pyongyang since 2019, when Xi went there for a state visit.

Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev (third from left), who is now Deputy Chair of the country’s Security Council, is leading Moscow’s delegation to Pyongyang

Getty Images Russia's former President Dmitry Medvede (third from left) attends a ceremony to lay flowers at the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang — Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev (third from left), who is now Deputy Chair of the country’s Security Council, is leading Moscow’s delegation to Pyongyang

Leaders from other socialist states, such as Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam, are also in North Korea to celebrate the anniversary

Getty Images Vietnam's Communist Party chief To Lam (left) posing for a photo with Kim Jong Un (right) during a welcoming ceremony as part of his three-day official visit in North Korea, where he will also attend celebrations marking the Workers' Party's 80th anniversary — Leaders from other socialist states, such as Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam, are also in North Korea to celebrate the anniversary

Last month, Kim stood shoulder to shoulder with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Beijing’s historic Tiananmen Square for China’s largest-ever military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s formal surrender at the end of World War Two.

That event also marked the first time Kim attended an international gathering of world leaders.

Kim’s alliance with Putin has been well publicised, with North Korea sending some 15,000 troops to aid Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, Pyongyang and Moscow signed a pact pledging to help each other in the event of “aggression” against either country.

North Korea’s anniversary concert on Thursday featured Russian singers and ballet dancers.

On Friday, North Korea is expected to show off its latest suite of missiles and military weapons in a night-time parade.

Some analysts say this year’s celebrations highlight the heavily-sanctioned Pyongyang’s growing diplomatic ties

Reuters Performers dressed in colourful traditional costumes clap and raise North Korean flags during the event — Some analysts say this year’s celebrations highlight the heavily-sanctioned Pyongyang’s growing diplomatic ties

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