Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a rifle during a ceremony in Pyongyang, as the two leaders formalised a new friendship treaty, state media reports.
The meeting saw both leaders, long-time supporters of Russia’s war in Ukraine, pledge closer cooperation and resistance to Western pressure. According to a video released by Belarusian state media, Lukashenko joked to Kim that he brought an automatic rifle “just in case enemies appear.” In response, Kim presented Lukashenko with a sword and a vase bearing a portrait of the Belarusian leader.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lukashenko told Kim, “I can tell you as a friend, as a person who has already seen everything in this world: a great future awaits your country with this hardworking, disciplined people.” He added that in a world where “the norms of international law are openly ignored and violated by powers that be,” countries must work together to protect sovereignty and improve the well-being of their citizens.
Lukashenko described the treaty as “fundamental,” while Kim said it would “further guarantee the stable development of bilateral relations,” according to the Belarus news agency Belta. Both leaders agreed to expand cooperation in areas including agriculture, information, and public health, North Korea’s KCNA reported.
The two countries face heavy Western sanctions due to alleged human rights abuses and their support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. North Korea is also separately sanctioned for its nuclear weapons programme and has reportedly supplied troops to Russia, with Western officials estimating that around 1,000 North Korean soldiers died in the early months of the conflict.
Kim reaffirmed his country’s support for Moscow in a message to Vladimir Putin this week, stating that “Pyongyang will always be with Moscow.” Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused Belarus of allowing Russian forces to use its territory as a base for attacks against Ukrainian targets.
The ceremony underscores the growing diplomatic alignment between two of the world’s most isolated states, united by shared political and military interests amid ongoing global tensions.
Melissa Enoch
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