SEOUL, May 08 (AJP)—North Korea welcomed a senior Belarusian delegation to Pyongyang this week, signaling growing ties between the two countries through a series of working-level talks and a formal banquet held on Tuesday. The Belarusian delegation will remain in North Korea until May 9.
The visit, led by Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Shuleiko, comes ahead of the third North Korea–Belarus Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation session, marking the first of its kind in 19 years. The last session was held in Minsk in 2006.
According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, officials from both sides sat down for detailed discussions on cooperation across various sectors. The two countries are expected to finalize new agreements during the upcoming joint committee meeting.
Later that evening, North Korean officials hosted a welcoming banquet at the Mansudae Assembly Hall. Deputy Prime Minister Jong Myong-su and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-kyu attended on behalf of the North Korean government.
Jong said he hoped the visit would help advance friendly relations and voiced confidence that exchanges and cooperation between the two sides would continue to grow. Shuleiko, for his part, emphasized the importance of expanding contact and practical collaboration “for the benefit of both peoples.”
Belarus has been one of Russia’s most vocal supporters since the start of the war in Ukraine. North Korea, which has grown increasingly close to Moscow, has also moved to bolster ties with Belarus, including holding foreign ministerial talks in Pyongyang last July.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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