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Putin Allies Lukashenko and Kim Meet in North Korea
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 25, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 25, 2026
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Pyongyang on March 25, 2026, for his first visit to North Korea to meet with Kim Jong Un, aiming to strengthen ties between two sanctioned allies of Russia amid deepening military and diplomatic cooperation.
Lukashenko Meets Kim Jong Un in North Korea to Bolster Alliance with Russia
Key Developments in Belarus-North Korea Relations
By Mark Trevelyan
March 25 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko began his first visit to North Korea on Wednesday for talks that will cement ties between two close allies of Russia's Vladimir Putin.
North Korea's Support for Russia
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has provided Moscow with millions of rounds of ammunition for its war in Ukraine, and sent troops to help Russia expel Ukrainian forces who invaded its western Kursk region in August 2024.
Belarus' Role in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Belarus allowed itself to be used as a launchpad for Russia's invasion in February 2022, and subsequently agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles on its territory, which borders three NATO alliance countries.
Lukashenko's Visit to Pyongyang
Lukashenko flew in to a red-carpet welcome in the capital Pyongyang, where he was greeted by Kim's foreign minister and dozens of small children waving the flags of both countries.
Lukashenko later met Kim, and the Belarusian side published a photograph of the two men embracing.
Tribute at Kumsusan Palace
He also paid his respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum where the preserved bodies of former rulers Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il - grandfather and father of the current leader - are displayed.
Sanctions and International Relations
North Korea and Belarus have both lived for years under international sanctions - the former mainly because of its nuclear weapons programme and the latter over its human rights record and backing for Putin in Ukraine.
Engagements with the United States
But both have engaged at different times with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump's Meetings with Kim Jong Un
Trump met Kim three times in 2018 and 2019, during his first term in the White House, but their encounters failed to yield substantive results. Trump said last year he would "love another meeting", which Kim said could happen if the U.S. dropped its "absurd obsession" with getting North Korea to give up nuclear weapons.
Trump's Contact with Lukashenko
Trump last year re-established direct contact with Lukashenko, who had been treated as a pariah by his predecessor Joe Biden. In recent months, the U.S. has begun to ease sanctions on Belarus in return for releases of political prisoners.
Recent Diplomatic Moves
Lukashenko's trip to North Korea comes just six days after he met Trump's envoy John Coale and announced the freeing of 250 more detainees. The U.S. side has said Lukashenko may soon visit the White House.
(Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Key Takeaways
- •This marks Lukashenko’s first official visit to North Korea, following an invitation extended after their meeting in Beijing in September 2025, underscoring closer Belarus–North Korea relations (apnews.com).
- •North Korea has actively supported Russia’s war in Ukraine by supplying ammunition—possibly up to 100% of artillery shells—and deploying troops to the Kursk region in 2024 under a June 2024 mutual defense treaty with Russia (themoscowtimes.com).
- •Following U.S.–Belarus negotiations, Lukashenko recently released 250 political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief, including easing restrictions on financial institutions and potash exports; this diplomatic shift could pave the way for a possible White House visit (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Putin allies Lukashenko and Kim meet in North Korea
1Why did Alexander Lukashenko visit North Korea?
Lukashenko visited North Korea to hold talks with Kim Jong Un and strengthen ties between Belarus and North Korea, both close allies of Russia.
2What support has North Korea provided to Russia?
North Korea has supplied Moscow with ammunition and sent troops to assist Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
3How are Belarus and North Korea connected to Russia?
Both Belarus and North Korea maintain close alliances with Russia and support its actions in the Ukraine conflict.
4What sanctions have Belarus and North Korea faced?
Belarus faces sanctions for its human rights record and support for Russia, while North Korea is sanctioned for its nuclear weapons program.
5Has the U.S. been involved with either country recently?
Yes, the U.S. has eased sanctions on Belarus in exchange for prisoner releases and both countries have engaged in talks with former U.S. President Trump.
