Pyongyang: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday, marking a significant elevation in the bilateral relations between the two nations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the summit talks occurred shortly after Lukashenko's arrival in Pyongyang for his first official visit to North Korea. The visit is aimed at expanding cooperation between Belarus and North Korea across a range of sectors. Lukashenko emphasized that the long-standing friendly relations, dating back to the Soviet Union era, are now transitioning to a fundamentally new stage of development.
Earlier reports from North Korea's state media indicated that Lukashenko received a warm welcome from Kim upon his arrival in Pyongyang. However, there have been no reports from the North Korean media regarding the summit talks themselves.
Both Belarus and North Korea have supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, with North Korea contributing troops and weapons and Belarus allowing the use of its territory for the invasion. This backdrop of shared geopolitical interests has seemingly paved the way for the strengthening of ties between Minsk and Pyongyang.
Belta, the Belarusian news agency, reported that the summit concluded with the signing of a "treaty on friendship and cooperation." Kim Jong-un stated that the new interstate treaty would provide a legal foundation for the stable development of bilateral relations. Lukashenko described the treaty as fundamental, outlining clear goals and principles for future interaction between Belarus and North Korea.
The leaders also exchanged gifts, highlighting the cordial nature of the meeting. Lukashenko presented a VSK assault rifle and a Belarusian sash to Kim, while Kim gifted Lukashenko a sabre and a large vase adorned with seashells.
During Lukashenko's visit, the two countries are expected to sign approximately 10 bilateral documents, including agreements on cooperation in education, culture, and sports. The formal diplomatic relations between North Korea and Belarus were established in 1992, with a joint trade and economic cooperation committee operational since 1995. This committee, which had been dormant, was reactivated in May last year, indicating a renewed commitment to fostering collaboration.
The unification ministry in Seoul anticipates that the discussions between Kim and Lukashenko focused on economic matters, potentially paving the way for enhanced trilateral cooperation with Russia.