Vietnam’s defence pact with North Korea a step back into the shadows

When Vietnam’s top delegation landed in Pyongyang with seven Politburo members – half the ruling body’s total membership – accompanying General Secretary To Lam, the symbolism could not be clearer. The Vietnamese leadership was not merely extending a hand of friendship; it was making a high-stakes gamble for political survival.

According to official reports, Vietnam and North Korea signed five bilateral cooperation documents covering defence, diplomacy, healthcare, trade and information. On the surface, these are framed as efforts to enhance traditional friendship. In reality, they are a defensive political manoeuvre, a reflection of the deep insecurities gripping Vietnam’s leadership ahead of the 14th national party congress.

The trip has little to do with economics as North Korea has nothing of material value to offer Vietnam beyond nostalgia and symbolism. Rather, it was a carefully choreographed performance of power, meant to consolidate Lam’s position as he seeks to demonstrate control over all three pillars of authority: security, foreign policy and party organisation.

The inclusion of heavyweights Phan Van Giang, Luong Tam Quang, Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Le Minh Hung, Phan Dinh Trac, Nguyen Xuan Thang and Do Van Chien was no coincidence. Their presence served as a message to rivals that the party elite remains united under Lam’s command. It was political stagecraft, not diplomacy.

Yet beneath that facade of unity lies a more anxious reality. The anti-corruption campaign that propelled Lam to power has also alienated many within the Communist Party. Dozens of officials have been purged or sidelined, and suspicion has become the currency of survival. As the party congress approaches, factions are manoeuvring quietly, and every trip abroad, photograph and handshake carries coded political meaning.

For Lam, the Pyongyang visit was a declaration that he remains unchallenged at the top of the system. For others inside and outside the party, it was a reminder of how fragile that control might be.

  

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