Commentary: Vietnam is courting North Korea – and nonetheless profitable Western mates | USAEMALL.com

PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT

The Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index 2024 noted that Hanoi punched above its weight when it comes to diplomatic influence. North Korea values its relations with Hanoi, so much so that Lam was still invited to the Workers’ Party anniversary event despite having just visited South Korea to ink a US$250 million arms deal with Seoul. 

Vietnam will also host a US$1.5 billion investment plan from the Trump organisation and local partners to build golf courses and hotels, a connection seen as significant amid talk of the possibility of another Trump-Kim summit in one of Trump’s properties.

So long as Pyongyang continues shunning talks with Seoul, Hanoi may even assume the type of shuttle diplomacy role played by South Korea’s former president Moon Jae-in between North Korea and the United States in any diplomatic process. When North Korea designated the South as the “principal enemy” in October last year, Vietnam urged restraint and dialogue between the two Koreas.

North Korea resumed post-COVID-19 pandemic high-level exchanges with Vietnam in 2024. In March 2024, Pyongyang sent a Workers’ Party international department delegation to Vietnam and Laos (Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith will also be visiting North Korea for the anniversary). In September and October last year, North Korea hosted two meetings with Vietnam’s deputy ministers from the National Defence and Foreign ministries.

Besides raising its international profile, Vietnam would benefit from a US-North Korea deal that lifted international sanctions on Pyongyang. Vietnam-North Korea economic exchanges presently centre on agriculture, sports, and tourism, which do not violate international sanctions. Vietnam also sought to repatriate North Korean overseas labourers even when it was improving ties with Pyongyang. Bilateral trade, however, is less than US$20 million per year, so has considerable opportunity to grow should circumstances change.