▲ 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)

SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has sent condolences over the death of a former leader of the Lao parliament, state media said Wednesday.

The condolence message was sent Sunday by the standing committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) over the death of Xaysomphone Phomvihane, former president of Laos' National Assembly, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

"The feats performed by Xaysomphone Phomvihane in contributing to the Lao people's cause of building socialism and the development of the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries will always be remembered," read the message, carried by the KCNA.

North Korean officials from the SPA standing committee, the foreign ministry, the ministry of external economic relations and the DPRK-Laos Friendship Association visited the Lao Embassy in Pyongyang to pay their respects, the report said. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith held talks in Pyongyang last October on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of the founding of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The two countries established diplomatic ties in June 1974 and have since maintained relations.

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[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]