Kim Meets Lukashenko, Criticizing Western Pressure on Belarus

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have signed a friendship treaty during a two-day visit to Pyongyang, marking a significant development in bilateral relations between the two countries.

The treaty was signed on Thursday, with Lukashenko stating that relations between their nations are entering a “fundamentally new stage”. He emphasized the need for cooperation among independent countries to protect sovereignty and improve citizens’ wellbeing in today’s global landscape.

Kim Jong Un echoed this sentiment, expressing shared positions on various issues and opposition to undue pressure from the West. The North Korean leader also welcomed Lukashenko with a lavish ceremony, featuring a white-horsed cavalry, flag-waving children, and a 21-cannon salute.

Lukashenko’s visit comes amid strengthened ties between Belarus and Russia, with both nations backing Russia’s war in Ukraine. Belarus has allowed Russian tactical nuclear missiles on its territory, which borders three NATO countries. North Korea has provided Moscow with ammunition and sent soldiers to help Russia expel Ukrainian forces from the western region of Kursk.

The two leaders have a long history of cooperation, sharing experience in surviving under international sanctions. While North Korea is subject to sanctions due to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Belarus has faced sanctions over its human rights record and support for Putin in Ukraine. In recent months, however, Belarus’s relationship with the US has thawed, following a meeting with Donald Trump’s envoy John Coale and the release of 250 prisoners.

Source: Al Jazeera