North Korea's Kim welcomes Belarusian President Lukashenko in Pyongyang
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- KIM JU-YEON
- [email protected]
![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a welcoming ceremony for the Belarusian leader's visit to Pyongyang at Kim Il Sung Square on March 25, as seen in a photo carried by North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun the following day. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/26/c8801ef8-8f7c-4587-b2c2-c4745a68f873.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a welcoming ceremony for the Belarusian leader's visit to Pyongyang at Kim Il Sung Square on March 25, as seen in a photo carried by North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun the following day. [NEWS1]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang, state media said on Thursday, as Lukashenko made his first official visit to the country.
A ceremony took place at Kim Il Sung Square on Wednesday after Lukashenko arrived by private plane for a two-day visit at Kim’s invitation, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Kim “gladly met” Lukashenko and “warmly welcomed” his visit, KCNA reported. The two leaders oversaw a ceremony that included national anthems, a 21-gun salute and an honor guard review.
The visit comes as both North Korea and Belarus have supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, with Pyongyang sending troops and weapons, and Minsk allowing Moscow to use its territory.
![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a welcoming ceremony for the Belarusian leader's visit to Pyongyang at Kim Il Sung Square on March 25, as seen in a photo carried by North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun the following day. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/26/234f7b55-0084-4cb3-a914-3c1da38eb609.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a welcoming ceremony for the Belarusian leader's visit to Pyongyang at Kim Il Sung Square on March 25, as seen in a photo carried by North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun the following day. [NEWS1]
The two countries plan to sign a "foundational" treaty on friendship and cooperation during Lukashenko's trip, the Belarusian Telegraph Agency reported Wednesday, citing the foreign minister. They are also expected to sign agreements on sectoral cooperation, including research and trade.
“Our greatest interest in the DPRK is strengthening truly friendly, partnership relations. The time has come to develop relations more actively," Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov said, according to the state-owned news agency. DPRK is the acronym for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
![A welcoming ceremony for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Pyongyang in North Korea is held at Kim Il Sung Square on March 25, as seen in this photo carried by North Korea's official Rodong Simun the following day. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/26/81e0e7de-f24b-40bb-a986-3fc2fd78e9b2.jpg)
A welcoming ceremony for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Pyongyang in North Korea is held at Kim Il Sung Square on March 25, as seen in this photo carried by North Korea's official Rodong Simun the following day. [NEWS1]
Lukashenko laid a wreath at the Liberation Tower in Pyongyang, which commemorates Soviet soldiers the North says died helping to free Korea from Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.
The Belarusian leader also paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum where late state founder Kim Il Sung and former leader Kim Jong-il lie in state. He laid a bouquet sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the KCNA reported.
Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Shuleiko and ministers of foreign affairs, public health, education and industry accompanied Lukashenko.
![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a welcoming ceremony for the Belarusian leader's visit to Pyongyang held at Kim Il Sung Square on March 25, as seen in this photo carried by North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun the following day. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/26/c2226060-0976-46ea-a1fb-737b345d24a8.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a welcoming ceremony for the Belarusian leader's visit to Pyongyang held at Kim Il Sung Square on March 25, as seen in this photo carried by North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun the following day. [NEWS1]
Kim and Lukashenko last met in September 2025 in Beijing on the occasion of China's military parade. The North's leader invited Lukashenko to visit North Korea at that time, according to Belta.
Belarus is among the few countries with which North Korea has sought economic cooperation under UN sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs.
During a speech at North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly on Monday, Kim accused the United States of engaging in global “state terrorism and aggression” that ignites "anti-American sentiment" and called for Pyongyang to take a stronger role in a united front against Washington.
BY KIM JU-YEON, YONHAP [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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