North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

DPRK Chief Prosecutor Meets Vietnam’s President

Vietnamese President Trương Tấn Sang sharks hands with Jang Pyong Gyu, Director of the DPRK Supreme Prosecutor's Office, in Hanoi on December 2, 2015 (Photo: VNA).

Vietnamese President Trương Tấn Sang sharks hands with Jang Pyong Gyu, Director of the DPRK Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, in Hanoi on December 2, 2015 (Photo: President of Vietnam Office).

Vietnam President Trương Tấn Sang met and hosted a reception for Jang Pyong Gyu, Director of the DPRK Supreme Public Prosecutor’s [central prosecutor] Office on December 2 (Wednesday) in Hanoi.  During the visit, Jang Pyong Gyu and Vietnamese officials signed a cooperation agreement between the DPRK prosecutor’s office and the Vietnamese Supreme People’s Procuracy.   According to KCNA, President Sang said that DPRK-Vietnam relations were “are precious ones forged by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and developed by the leaders of the two countries of the preceding generations” and that the “peoples of the two countries have had a good tradition of mutual support in the common endeavors for national liberation, reunification of the country and socialist construction.”  President Sang also added that the Vietnamese leadership “values the relations with the DPRK and is willing to closely support and cooperate in the international arena and in all fields including economy, trade, science and technology” and he ” wished the party and people of the DPRK a bigger victory in carrying out the cause of socialist construction.”

Jang Pyong Gyu talks with Vietnamese President Trương Tấn Sang in Hanoi on December 2, 2015 (Photo: Vietnam News Agency).

Jang Pyong Gyu talks with Vietnamese President Trương Tấn Sang in Hanoi on December 2, 2015 (Photo: Vietnam News Agency).

According to Vietnam’s state media, President Sang “spoke highly of the co-operation between the DPRK Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office and the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Viet Nam.” and he noted his wish for the two sides to work harder to realize their commitments and agreements, thus elevating relations between the two sectors and countries. The Vietnamese Party and State would create optimal conditions for the two agencies to strengthen their coordination.”  He also “suggested DPRK officials should make proposals to diversify the two sides’ cooperation programs.”  Jang Pyong Gyu said that he wished Vientam further “achievements and the early fulfillment of its industrialization and modernization goals” and he highlighted exchanges of high-ranking delegations and the signing of a range of co-operation agreements, which had helped advance the two countries’ relationship.”  Jang “pledged to do his utmost to promote their traditional friendship” and he “used the occasion to inform his host about his country’s socio-economic situation and future course of development.”  He also thanked the “Vietnamese people’s support during his country’s period of natural construction.”

Jang Pyong Gyu (left) met with Ho Chi Ming City People's Committee Vice Chair Hứa Ngọc Thuận (right) during a visit to HCMC on December 3, 2015 (Photos: VNA).

Jang Pyong Gyu (left) met with Ho Chi Ming City People’s Committee Vice Chair Hứa Ngọc Thuận (right) during a visit to HCMC on December 3, 2015 (Photos: VNA).

On December 3 (Thursday), Jang Pyong Gyu and the prosecutor’s office delegation met with Hứa Ngọc Thuận, vice chair of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.  According to Vietnam’s state media Thuận told Jang and the delegation that two countries “have enjoyed the growing ties since” establishing diplomatic relations and he hoped the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two countries’ prosecutors’ officers “will help propel bilateral collaboration between the two agencies and contribute to promoting relations between the two nations.”  Jang said that the cooperation agreement is “bound to advance further following” its signing and Jang “highlighted the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the DPRK which was founded by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kim Il Sung.”  Jang also promised that the DPRK “will exert all-out efforts to beef up the relationship.”

An affiliate of 38 North