Belarusian delegation visits North Korea, signs cooperation protocol

A delegation from the Belarusian Communist Party has met with North Korean officials in Pyongyang, signing a "cooperation protocol."

The meeting, which took place Tuesday, involved the Belarusian delegation, led by Serguéi Sirankov, first secretary of the Communist Party's Central Committee, and Kim Song-nam, secretary of the North Korean Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the signing but provided no details on the protocol's content. The meeting occurred in a "cordial atmosphere," according to KCNA.

This visit underscores the deepening relationship between the two nations. In April, Belarus announced its plan to establish an embassy in Pyongyang by August 1. This move came after Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko visited North Korea in March, signing a friendship and cooperation agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The isolated North Korean regime has intensified cooperation with Russia and Belarus in recent years, particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine. Both Minsk and Pyongyang have become key military and logistical supporters of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.