Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko began his first official visit to North Korea on Wednesday, reports the Belarusian state news agency "BELTA," citing AFP.
The purpose of the two-day visit is to deepen ties and "define the main directions of mutual interests and the most promising projects for implementation," the agency notes.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Lukashenko met in September in Beijing, where they attended a military parade in Tiananmen Square. At that time, the North Korean leader invited him to visit the country.
The aim of the visit is to "demonstrate solidarity" between countries opposing the Western order, said Lee Ho Ryong, a representative of the Korea Defense Analysis Institute, to AFP.
"Kim will try to use this opportunity to enhance his diplomatic visibility and strengthen solidarity among the so-called block of countries oriented against the West," Lee said.
In a letter from Lukashenko earlier this month, Kim noted that he is "ready to expand and develop traditional relations of friendship and cooperation to a new, higher level in accordance with the demands of the new era," reported the North Korean agency KCNA.
For his part, the Belarusian leader stated that "Minsk confirms its interest in actively expanding political and economic ties with Pyongyang at all levels."
