HANOI, Oct. 23 -- The premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Yong Il will pay an official visit to Vietnam from Oct. 26-30, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Tuesday.

       The visit is made at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

       General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh visited the DPRK from Oct. 16-18.

       Vietnam and the DPRK established diplomatic ties in 1950. They have signed a number of important treaties and agreements, including an agreement on culture cooperation in 1957, an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation in 1958, a treaty on friendship and cooperation in 1961, an agreement on trade and maritime in 1962 and an agreement on medical assistance in 1966.