Minsk: Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has commenced an official visit to North Korea, focusing on discussions aimed at enhancing cooperation across several sectors, a report from a Belarusian news outlet stated on Wednesday. The visit, spanning Wednesday to Thursday, was initiated at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for bilateral negotiations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussions aim to cover a broad spectrum of cooperation opportunities between the Republic of Belarus and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The leaders are set to pinpoint key areas of mutual interest and identify promising projects for implementation. This visit follows a previous meeting between Kim and Lukashenko in September last year in Beijing, where they both attended a military parade. It was during this event that Kim reportedly extended the invitation to the Belarusian leader.
Upon his arrival in North Korea, President Lukashenko paid his respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum housing the remains of the country's late leaders, as reported by Belta, a Belarusian news agency. During his visit, the two nations are expected to sign a treaty on friendship and cooperation, further solidifying their diplomatic ties. The Belarusian foreign minister, Maxim Ryzhenkov, emphasized that the treaty will serve as a foundation for enhancing interactions between ministries and agencies from both countries.
Ryzhenkov highlighted agriculture, education, and health care as key areas for potential cooperation. The strengthening of relations between North Korea and Belarus is believed to be influenced by their shared support for Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.