Belarus’ foreign minister is set to visit North Korea this week, as announced by the two countries on Monday. The trip is expected to focus on discussions of trilateral cooperation involving Russia amidst their separate confrontations with the West.
Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov will arrive in North Korea on Tuesday for a three-day visit at the invitation of the North Korean Foreign Ministry. Neither country has disclosed details of Ryzhenkov’s itinerary, but it is anticipated that he will meet with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui. This visit marks the first time a Belarusian foreign minister will travel to North Korea.
Observers suggest that the meeting between Ryzhenkov and North Korean officials will likely revolve around establishing trilateral partnerships involving North Korea, Belarus, and Russia. This speculation arises from North Korea’s recent defense pact with Russia and Belarus’ longstanding close ties with Russia.
In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a deal in Pyongyang, stipulating mutual military assistance in case of an attack. The U.S., South Korea, and their allies have accused North Korea of supplying conventional arms to Russia for its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, a claim that both North Korea and Russia have denied.
Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko permitted Russia to use Belarus as a staging ground for the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Additionally, in 2023, Russia relocated some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. The three countries—North Korea, Russia, and Belarus—are facing Western sanctions and increasing international isolation due to various reasons, including North Korea’s nuclear program, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Belarus’ support of the Russian invasion and its 2020 disputed election, as well as human rights violations.
Last September, Lukashenko proposed the idea of Belarus joining Russia and North Korea in “three-way cooperation” during a meeting with Putin in Sochi. In April, the vice foreign minister of North Korea and Belarus met in Pyongyang and agreed to enhance high-level contacts and visits, as reported by North Korea's state media.
