A top North Korean foreign affairs official has departed for a tour of Vietnam and Indonesia.

Japan’s Kyodo News reported that Ri Su-yong, Vice Chairman for International Affairs at the North’s Workers’ Party, flew to Beijing on Monday, en route to Vietnam and Indonesia.

Ri will reportedly visit a third country via Beijing before attending the 18th annual International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties set to open on Friday in Vietnam.

Ri is expected to claim the legitimacy of the North’s nuclear tests and missile firing at the conference, calling for support. He is also likely to meet senior Vietnamese officials to discuss bilateral cooperation.