Belarus and North Korea are anticipated to signal a treaty of friendship as their leaders meet in Pyongyang.
Printed On 25 Mar 2026
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has begun his first official go to to North Korea, in a bid to strengthen ties between the 2 nations united by their assist for Russia’s war in Ukraine and accusations of authoritarianism and rights violations.
Belarusian state information company Belta stated the two-day go to that kicked off on Wednesday aimed to “establish key areas of mutual curiosity and probably the most promising initiatives for implementation”.
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Lukashenko was quoted by Belta as saying “the time has come to step up relations”. “The present scenario is just pushing us into one another’s arms,” he added.
The Belarusian president stated they deliberate to signal a “treaty of friendship” and “about 10 agreements” through the go to.
Kim Jong Un and Lukashenko met in September in Beijing once they attended a army parade at Tiananmen Sq., the place the North Korean chief reportedly prolonged an invite.
In a letter to Lukashenko earlier this month, Kim stated he was “keen to broaden and develop the normal relations of friendship and cooperation … to a brand new, increased stage according to the calls for of the brand new period”, the North’s official Korean Central Information Company (KCNA) reported.
The Belarusian chief, in return, stated that, “Minsk affirms it has an curiosity in actively increasing political and financial ties with Pyongyang in any respect ranges.”
North Korea has been below Western sanctions, largely on account of its nuclear weapons programme and missile exercise, but additionally due to its assist for Russia’s conflict towards Ukraine.
South Korean and Western intelligence companies estimated that the North has despatched 1000’s of troopers to Russia, primarily to the Kursk area, together with artillery shells, missiles and rocket methods.
Analysts say North Korea is receiving monetary assist, army know-how, meals and power provides from Russia in return. This has enabled Pyongyang to minimize dependence on its essential long-term backer, China.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea in 2024 for the primary time in 24 years and promised to assist Pyongyang in defending its pursuits towards what he referred to as “US strain, blackmail and army threats”.
Throughout Putin’s journey, North Korea and Russia signed a mutual defence agreement below which the 2 nations have been obliged to offer army help if the opposite was attacked.
Worldwide rights organisations accuse the North Korean regime of torture, public executions, jail camps, compelled labour and restrictions to the liberty of expression and motion.
Belarus has additionally moved deeper into Russia’s orbit, after serving as a launchpad for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Lukashenko has come down onerous on any dissent contained in the nation throughout his three a long time in energy.
US President Donald Trump has sought to construct ties with Belarus in his second time period, easing sanctions and welcoming it to his “Board of Peace”.
He additionally met Kim in his first time period and there was hypothesis of a rerun when the US president makes his delayed visit to China subsequent month.
Minsk has launched dozens of prisoners in current months, together with 250 earlier this month, largely on account of US efforts.
However it nonetheless holds lots of of political prisoners in its jails, lots of whom have been arrested after the 2020 election that noticed a landslide victory for Lukashenko, seen as a sham by the opposition.
