'Will focus on developing mutually beneficial relations'

The Belarusian flag flies at the INNOPROM Belarus 2026 International Industrial Exhibition held at Belexpo in Minsk on Oct. 1. [TASS]
The Belarusian flag flies at the INNOPROM Belarus 2026 International Industrial Exhibition held at Belexpo in Minsk on Oct. 1. [TASS]

Belarus has opened an embassy in North Korea, expanding diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Belarus's Foreign Ministry said it opened an embassy in Pyongyang this month, according to Yonhap, which cited North Korea-focused outlet NK News. The ministry did not disclose the opening date, location or the name of the ambassador to North Korea.

Belarus also opened an embassy in Myanmar this month.

"The opening of the two embassies is in line with our policy of strengthening our diplomatic presence in countries in distant regions," the Foreign Ministry said. "We will focus on developing mutually beneficial relations with North Korea and Myanmar."

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko paid an official visit to North Korea in March, and Prime Minister Alexander Turchin signed a cabinet resolution in April to establish an embassy there as a follow-up measure. The Belarusian government had aimed to open the embassy by Aug. 1 but appears to have fallen behind schedule.

North Korea has operated a diplomatic mission in the Belarusian capital Minsk since 2016, but Belarus had never maintained an embassy in North Korea or sent a diplomatic envoy there.

North Korea has been drawing closer to Russia — including by sending troops to fight in the war in Ukraine — and is also strengthening ties with Belarus, a pro-Russian state. North Korean state media have yet to report the opening of the Belarusian embassy.

Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov said in a state television interview in March that President Lukashenko was working to mediate relations between the United States and North Korea.


ehkim@heraldcorp.com