North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed a friendship and cooperation agreement between the two countries today, the 26th, in Pyongyang, according to the press service of the Belarusian head of state.
“Alexander Lukashenko and Kim Jong-un signed the Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” the Belarusian press service stated on the messaging platform Telegram.
The Belarusian leader emphasized that this document “accurately and openly sets forth the goals and principles” of the partnership and “defines the institutional frameworks for future mutually beneficial processes.”
During the meeting, Lukashenko predicted “a great future” for North Korea, thanks to its “hardworking and disciplined people.”
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“You know how to do everything. And you do it like no one else in the world. And what I’m saying isn’t just a gesture of respect in the context of our negotiations. This is truly based on my own observations,” he noted.
The Belarusian president emphasized that “despite the geographical distance, the peoples of Belarus and Korea share common interests in patriotism, the preservation of historical memory, and a deep respect for older generations.”
“The friendly relations between our states, forged back in the days of the Soviet Union, have never been interrupted. Now they are entering a completely new phase,” said the leader, emphasizing that both economies complement each other. “We need each other,” he added.
For his part, the North Korean leader expressed to the Belarusian president his “solidarity and full support” for the European country. Furthermore, he condemned “the illegal pressure against Belarus by the West.”
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“We express our support for and solidarity with the measures taken by the Government of Belarus to ensure political and social stability, as well as economic development,” he added. Kim Jong-un welcomed Lukashenko on Wednesday at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang.
In addition to the friendship and cooperation treaty, the signing of 10 more bilateral agreements is planned. Lukashenko will remain in the Asian country for two days during the official visit, according to the press service of the Belarusian Presidency.
The statement emphasizes that during the planned meeting between Lukashenko and Kim, the “full spectrum” of bilateral relations will be addressed, and areas of greatest interest for joint projects will be identified.
Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, congratulated the North Korean leader on Monday on his reelection as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, the country’s highest office.
In recent years, the country has revived cooperation at all levels with Russia and Belarus, coinciding with the war in Ukraine.
