Belarusian Foreign Minister Visits North Korea Amid Growing Ties with Russia

SEOUL, South Korea — Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov arrived in North Korea on Tuesday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement as experts speculate discussions may focus on forming a trilateral anti-Western alliance involving Russia. Ryzhenkov, who traveled from Beijing, was welcomed by North Korean officials, including Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong Gyu. This visit is notable as Ryzhenkov is the first Belarusian foreign minister to visit North Korea. While the specific agenda of Ryzhenkov's meetings with North Korean officials, including his counterpart Choe Son Hui, remains undisclosed, analysts suggest that the discussions will likely revolve around enhancing cooperation among North Korea, Belarus, and Russia. This comes in the context of their shared challenges in dealing with Western sanctions and international isolation, particularly in light of North Korea's nuclear ambitions and Belarus's support for Russia's actions in Ukraine. The backdrop of this visit includes a pact signed in June between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which promises mutual military assistance. The U.S. and South Korea have accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia in exchange for military support, further complicating the geopolitical landscape. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has previously indicated interest in a three-way cooperation with Russia and North Korea, emphasizing the need for solidarity among nations facing Western sanctions. Diplomatic relations between North Korea and Belarus have existed since the early 1990s, with North Korea establishing an embassy in Minsk in 2016.