Belarus Opens Embassy in North Korea, Aims to Develop Mutually Beneficial Relations

▲ Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who made an official visit to North Korea at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, greets children waving the flags of both countries at Pyongyang International Airport on March 25.

Belarus has opened an embassy in North Korea this month, US-based North Korea-focused media outlet NK News reported on the 17th, citing an announcement from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry did not disclose the exact date and location of the embassy's opening, nor the name of the ambassador to North Korea.

It also announced that an embassy was opened in Myanmar this month.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry stated, "The opening of these two embassies is the result of a policy to strengthen our diplomatic presence in distant regions," adding, "The missions will focus on developing mutually beneficial relations with North Korea and Myanmar."

Previously, following Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's official visit to North Korea in March, Prime Minister Alexander Turchin signed a Cabinet resolution in April regarding the establishment of an embassy in North Korea as a follow-up measure.

Initially, the Belarusian government pushed to open the embassy in North Korea by August 1 of this year, but the schedule was slightly delayed compared to the plan.

Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov met with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly held in New York last month, where they also discussed issues related to the opening of the embassy.

Until now, Belarus has never maintained an embassy or dispatched diplomatic envoys to North Korea.

On the other hand, North Korea has operated a diplomatic mission in the Belarusian capital of Minsk since 2016.

North Korean state media has not yet reported on the opening of the Belarusian embassy.

North Korea, which has grown closer to Russia following its troop deployment to the war in Ukraine, is also strengthening ties with Belarus, a pro-Russian nation.

Minister Ryzhenkov stated in an interview with Belarusian state television in March that President Lukashenko was making efforts to mediate relations between the United States and North Korea.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

※