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North Korea and Belarus Sign Friendship Treaty in Pyongyang

The move signals closer coordination with Russia under a pact whose terms remain undisclosed.

Overview

  • Kim Jong Un and Alexander Lukashenko signed the pact in Pyongyang on Thursday following talks that also produced agreements on diplomacy, agriculture, education, public health and information.
  • State outlets in both countries reported the signings but did not release the treaty text or spell out specific obligations.
  • South Korea’s Unification Ministry said the agreement strengthens three‑way coordination among North Korea, Russia and Belarus and aligns with Pyongyang’s push for an anti‑West, multipolar order.
  • Belarusian video showed Lukashenko gifting Kim a Belarus‑made assault rifle, while Kim gave a ceremonial sword and a vase during a visit that featured a reception and an ice‑rink show.
  • Both capitals support Russia’s war in Ukraine, with reports of North Korean munitions and troop support and Belarus hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons, a stance that could complicate Minsk’s recent, tentative contacts with Washington.