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North Korea, Belarus Sign Friendship Treaty, Kcna Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held a summit in Pyongyang on March 27, 2026, signing a friendship and cooperation treaty, marking the first such agreement and state visit between the two countries.
North Korea, Belarus sign friendship treaty, KCNA says
Summit Details and Bilateral Agreements
Leaders Meet in Pyongyang
SEOUL, March 27 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held a summit in Pyongyang on Thursday, where the two leaders signed a friendship treaty, North Korea's state media KCNA reported.
Areas of Cooperation
The two countries signed agreements on cooperation in various sectors, including diplomacy, agriculture, education and public health, KCNA said.
Diplomacy and Bilateral Relations
At a banquet, Kim said Lukashenko's visit to Pyongyang, the first state visit by a Belarusian president since the two countries established diplomatic relations, was meaningful for upgrading bilateral relations between the two countries, KCNA reported.
Shared Views on International Affairs
Lukashenko told Kim that the bilateral relations "are developing at a very fast pace" and the leadership of the two countries shared the same views on international affairs, KCNA said.
Context: International Sanctions and Support for Russia
Backing for Russia in Ukraine War
The summit brought together two leaders both under international sanctions who have provided crucial backing for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's four-year war with Ukraine.
North Korea's Military Involvement
North Korea sent some 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine in 2024, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western sources.
Belarus' Role in the Conflict
Lukashenko allowed Belarus to be used as a launchpad for Russia's February 2022 invasion and subsequently agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles on its territory, which borders three members of the NATO alliance.
(Reporting by Heejin Kim; editing by David Gaffen)
Key Takeaways
- •This treaty constitutes the first formal ‘‘friendship and cooperation’’ accord between Belarus and North Korea, following lukewarm ties despite diplomatic links since 1992 and embassy openings in 2016 (en.wikipedia.org).
- •It reflects both countries’ deepening strategic alignment as part of Russia‑led multipolar cooperation, including engagement in a proposed Eurasian Charter with Russia, Iran, and Myanmar (38north.org).
- •Economically, the two have been rebuilding trade and cooperation—especially in agriculture, machinery, and sanctions‑resilient sectors—culminating in intergovernmental talks in 2025 and now formalized through this treaty (plenglish.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about North Korea, Belarus sign friendship treaty, KCNA says
1Who attended the recent summit in Pyongyang?
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attended the summit.
2What agreement was signed between North Korea and Belarus?
The two countries signed a friendship treaty during the summit.
3Where did the summit between North Korea and Belarus take place?
The summit took place in Pyongyang, North Korea.
4Which media outlet reported the signing of the friendship treaty?
North Korea's state media KCNA reported the signing of the treaty.
