HÀ NỘI — A high-ranking delegation from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) visited a civil equipment research and production complex of the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) at Hà Nội’s Hoà Lạc Hi-Tech Park on February 28.

They included Politburo member, Vice Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee, and head of the WPK’s International Affairs Department Ri Su-yong; Politburo member, Vice Chairman of the WPK Central Committee, and head of the WPK’s Cadres’ Affairs Department Kim Pyong-hae; and Politburo member, Vice Chairman of the WPK Central Committee, and head of the WPK’s Economic Affairs Department O Su-yong.

The tour was a fringe activity of the high-ranking delegation during their trip to Việt Nam for the second DPRK-USA summit in Hà Nội and the official visit to Việt Nam by Chairman of the WPK Central Committee Kim Jong Un.

DPRK officials visited Viettel’s global telecom centre which oversees and operates the telecom and information technology system in Việt Nam, as well as providing technical assistance for 10 foreign telecom companies.

They were introduced to the group’s core telecom equipment system, alongside devices and solutions used by fishing vessels.

Viettel Deputy General Director Major General Hoàng Sơn said that Viettel was honoured as one of the 500 most valuable brands in the world in 2019, with its brand value having grown by 35.8 per cent in 2018 against 2017, to reach more than US$4.3 billion.

Viettel has more than 100 million subscribers in Việt Nam and 10 other countries, Sơn added.

Speaking at the meeting, Ri Su-yong expressed that the DPRK is impressed with Viettel technologies, and conveyed his hope that both sides would have more exchanges and opportunities for cooperation in the time ahead as DPRK is also highly interested in telecommunication and smart technologies.

The DPRK delegation then went on to visit the Đan Hoài cooperative’s orchid planting model in Đan Phượng District of Hà Nội. — VNS