N. Korea's Kim congratulates Laos' president on his reelection as nation's leader

## Summary
SEOUL, April 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has congratulated Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on his reelection as the nation's leader, expressing his hope for further developing ties with Laos, state media reported Tuesday. Kim sent a congratulatory message to Sisoulith, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, on April 1, as he was reelected as president of Laos at the first session of a new parliament March 23, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The North's leader held talks with Sisoulith in Pyongyang in October on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of North Korea's Workers' Party, and they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) shakes hands with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Pyongyang on Oct. 7, 2025, as the Lao leader visited the North to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 8. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea.

## Article Content
SEOUL, April 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has congratulated Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on his reelection as the nation's leader, expressing his hope for further developing ties with Laos, state media reported Tuesday.

Kim sent a congratulatory message to Sisoulith, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, on April 1, as he was reelected as president of Laos at the first session of a new parliament March 23, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The North's leader called his reelection an expression of "deep trust and strong support" by Laos' ruling party, government and people toward Sisoulith.

Kim expressed his conviction that "friendly and cooperative relations between our two parties and two countries will continue to deepen and develop in accordance with the spirit of an agreement reached at our meeting in October last year in Pyongyang," the KCNA said.

The North's leader held talks with Sisoulith in Pyongyang in October on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of North Korea's Workers' Party, and they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) shakes hands with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Pyongyang on Oct. 7, 2025, as the Lao leader visited the North to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 8. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- The North's leader called his reelection an expression of "deep trust and strong support" by Laos' ruling party, government and people toward Sisoulith.

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- Kim expressed his conviction that "friendly and cooperative relations between our two parties and two countries will continue to deepen and develop in accordance with the spirit of an agreement reached at our meeting in October last year in Pyongyang," the KCNA said.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers north, leader, sisoulith topics. Notable strengths include discussion of north. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 249.