North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met China’s premier and the heads of Russia’s and Vietnam’s ruling parties on Thursday, amid large-scale celebrations for the Workers Party of Korea’s 80th anniversary in Pyongyang.

At a mass games performance kicking off festivities, Kim enthusiastically greeted Chinese Premier Li Qiang, United Russia Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev and Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) General Secretary To Lam, photos published by state media on Friday show.

Reflecting their seniority, the Chinese head of government and the CPV chief sat to the right and left of the North Korean leader, respectively, at the large-scale gymnastics and