Seoul, Mar 25 (EFE).- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un welcomed Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko in Pyongyang on Wednesday, where the two leaders held a formal reception and prepared to sign multiple cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
The official ceremony for the Belarusian delegation included an honor guard, the playing of both countries’ national anthems, and the firing of several volleys, according to Belarusian news agency BELTA.
Following the ceremony, the two leaders visited the Liberation Monument, an obelisk built in 1947 to honor Soviet Army soldiers who fought against Japanese occupation
Kim and Lukashenko observed a minute of silence, after which the Belarusian leader laid a floral tribute on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing gratitude for the participation of North Korean soldiers in the war in Ukraine.
Lukashenko also paid tribute to Kim’s father and grandfather, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the mausoleum where their embalmed remains are preserved in separate glass sarcophagi.
Kim and Lukashenko are expected to sign a friendship and cooperation treaty, along with ten additional bilateral agreements, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov announced.
Lukashenko will remain in North Korea for two days during his official visit, according to a statement from the Belarusian presidential press service.
The statement added that during their planned meeting, Lukashenko and Kim will address “the entire spectrum” of bilateral relations and identify priority areas for joint projects.
LukasheSIn recent years, particularly since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, North Korea, often referred to as the hermit kingdom, has revived cooperation at multiple levels with Russia and Belarus. EFE
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