North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (Kim) welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on his visit to North Korea.
The Workers’ Party of Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Thursday that a welcoming ceremony for Comrade Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, who is on an official visit to the country at the invitation of Comrade Kim, was held at Kim Il Sung Square on Wednesday.
The ceremony featured the national flags of both North Korea and Belarus, with an honor guard, cavalry unit, and the central military band of the Ministry of National Defense in formation. Jo Yong-won, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, along with party secretaries Kim Jae-ryong, Ri Il-hwan, and Kim Song-nam, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, and First Deputy Prime Minister Kim Tok-hun attended the event.
President Lukashenko reviewed the honor guard, guided by Kim. The newspaper reported that Lukashenko expressed his gratitude for the North Korean government’s warm reception.
Lukashenko and his delegation arrived in Pyongyang the previous day on a special flight. The entourage included Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Shuleiko and the Belarusian ministers of foreign affairs, health, education, and industry. First Deputy Prime Minister Kim Tok-hun and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-kyu greeted them at the airport.
Lukashenko and Kim laid a wreath at the Liberation Tower to commemorate fallen Soviet soldiers. They then visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay respects to the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
This summit appears to be part of an effort to expand exchanges in light of North Korea’s growing ties with Russia. On Tuesday, Belarus’s state news agency BelTA reported that Lukashenko’s visit to North Korea would last two days, starting on Wednesday, with a summit scheduled during the trip.
BelTA stated that the two countries will discuss various areas of cooperation and viable joint projects to develop their relationship, adding that Lukashenko’s visit is expected to strengthen the institutional framework of bilateral relations and foster more active cooperation between the two nations.