BAC GIANG, Vietnam — In a rice field in northern Vietnam, 14 headstones are an enduring symbol of the wartime friendship of Vietnam and North Korea. Decades later, the communist nations’ friendship is apparent as Vietnam gets ready to host the second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un next week. They were to wear North Vietnamese uniforms and Vietnam would provide the aircraft, facilities and equipment. Vietnam’s fleet of aging Russian-made MiG-17 fighters was taking heavy losses defending against the U.S. bombing campaign against North Vietnam, Operation Rolling Thunder. “For the North Korean pilots who fought to protect our country and died for our country, I salute them.

Source: National Post February 19, 2019 03:06 UTC