Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the establishment of his country’s embassy in Pyongyang and has officially invited Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, to visit Belarus.
According to the BelTA news agency on March 27, President Lukashenko demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening ties with North Korea.
This move appears to be a reciprocal gesture, given that North Korea already operates an embassy in Minsk, the Belarusian capital.
Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov reported that President Lukashenko has called for the expedited conclusion of a visa waiver agreement with North Korea.
This directive came immediately following President Lukashenko’s visit to North Korea and his summit with Kim on March 25-26.
During their meeting, the two leaders signed a Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, signaling a new era in their bilateral relationship.
North Korea and Belarus are now focusing on identifying specific areas for practical cooperation. Minister Ryzhenkov noted North Korea’s particular interest in addressing food security issues, stating that it can offer support and assistance in this area.
He also mentioned North Korea’s keen interest in acquiring advanced medical expertise from Belarus.
In the education sector, the two countries have signed cooperation agreements that include student exchanges and faculty training programs. They have also expanded economic cooperation by discussing joint ventures in industries such as tractor manufacturing.
The growing closeness between Belarus and North Korea appears to be part of a broader strategy to strengthen anti-Western alliances centered around Russia. Both nations are currently under Western sanctions and have reaffirmed their commitment to jointly resist what they term illegal pressure from the West during their recent talks.