▲ Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as he visits the Liberation Tower, honoring the former Soviet war dead, in Pyongyang on March 25, 2026, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency the next day. The Belarusian leader made his first official visit to the North at the invitation of Kim (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) welcomes Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to North Korea in a ceremony in Pyongyang on March 25, 2026, in this image captured the next day from the Korean Central Television. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) N Korea-Belarus-summit

(2nd LD) Belarus leader says ties with N. Korea upgraded to 'new stage': report

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 10-12)

SEOUL, March 26 (Yonhap) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday and said bilateral relations will be upgraded to a "new stage," according to a Belarusian news report.

The summit talks between Kim and Lukashenko came a day after the Belarusian leader arrived in Pyongyang for his first official visit to North Korea, aimed at expanding cooperation between their countries across various fields.

"The friendly relations between our states, which originated back in the days of the Soviet Union, have never been interrupted. Today, as a result of comprehensive progressive development, we are transitioning to a fundamentally new stage. Belatedly, but nevertheless, we are transitioning to a new stage," Belarusian news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying.

Earlier in the day, North Korea's state media reported that Lukashenko was "warmly" greeted by Kim as he arrived at Pyongyang, but there have been no reports from the North's media about summit talks.

Both North Korea and Belarus have supported Russia in its invasion against Ukraine, with Pyongyang sending troops and weapons and Minsk allowing Moscow to use territory for the invasion.

"As a result of comprehensive progressive development, relations between Belarus and the DPRK are transitioning to a fundamentally new stage," Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying.

DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

Belta said the two leaders signed a "treaty on friendship and cooperation," quoting Kim as saying, "The new interstate treaty will serve as a legal foundation that will further guarantee the stable development of bilateral relations."

Lukashenko called the document "fundamental," saying it "clearly and openly sets forth the goals and principles of interaction between the two countries and defines the institutional framework for future mutually beneficial processes."

The two sides also exchanged gifts, with Lukashenko presenting a VSK assault rifle and a Belarusian sash, among other items, to the North's leader, Belta reported.

Kim appeared to smile as he examined the rifle beside Lukashenko, video footage from Belta showed.

Kim's gifts to Lukashenko included a sabre and a large vase decorated with seashells, it said.

During Lukashenko's visit, the countries are also expected to sign around 10 bilateral documents, including agreements on cooperation in education, culture, physical culture and sports, according to Belta.

North Korea and Belarus formally established diplomatic relations in 1992 and have operated a joint trade and economic cooperation committee since 1995.

The once-dormant committee was reactivated in May last year, and the North's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui visited Belarus in October to attend a regional security meeting.

The unification ministry in Seoul views Thursday's Kim-Lukashenko talks as likely to focus on economic affairs as part of a bid to cement trilateral cooperation also involving Russia.

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