Belarusian Foreign Minister Ryschenkow travels to North Korea on an official visit
Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryshchankou will travel to North Korea for a three-day visit starting on Tuesday. According to the Foreign Ministry in Minsk, this is an official reciprocal visit at the invitation of Pyongyang. The visit takes place against the backdrop of EU sanctions against Belarus, which were imposed due to its close ties with Russia and the Russian war in Ukraine.
Moscow has strengthened its partnership with the internationally isolated North Korea since the beginning of its Ukraine offensive. Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang in June and the two countries signed a military cooperation pact. Putin did not rule out arms deliveries to North Korea. Military agreements between North Korea and Russia would violate UN resolutions against North Korea's nuclear and missile program, which Russia also supported as a permanent member.
North Korea, in turn, is accused of supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine with arms deliveries. Belarus plays an important role for Moscow's war against Ukraine. Russian troops attacked from Belarusian territory at the beginning of the offensive in February 2022.
Due to the actions against the opposition in Belarus, EU countries had already imposed sanctions on the leadership around President Alexander Lukashenko before the Ukraine conflict. Belarus is also looking for new sales markets for its grain producers.
- Despite the ongoing EU sanctions against Belarus, based on its close ties with Russia and the Russian war in Ukraine, the Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryshchankou is scheduled to make an official reciprocal visit to North Korea, starting on Tuesday.
- During his visit to North Korea, the Belarusian Minister of Water, Maxim Ryshchankou, might explore potential cooperative opportunities in water management, as North Korea has dealt with water scarcity issues and could benefit from Belarusian expertise in this area.
- The visit by the Belarusian Foreign Minister to North Korea, a country also under international sanctions for its nuclear and missile program, could potentially lead to discussions around easing sanctions or establishing a mutual position against EU and UN sanctions, based on shared experiences of international isolation.
