{"id":80622,"date":"2024-04-18T13:44:06","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T10:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/80622\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"belarus-remains-in-russias-background-as-it-explores-ties-with-north-korea-ex-diplomat","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/80622\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus remains in Russia\u2019s background as it explores ties with North Korea \u2013 ex-diplomat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 18, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Minsk’s attempts to advance trilateral relations with Russia and North Korea may remain in the background of ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, a retired Belarusian diplomat has told Pozirk<\/em>, speaking on the condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deputy Foreign Minister Ja\u016dhien \u0160astako\u016d’s visit to North Korea on April 16 and his meeting with Russian envoy Alexandr Matsegora are not likely to bring any benefits to Belarus, he said, noting deeper ties between Russia and North Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow reportedly helped Pyongyang to access to some of its frozen assets and facilitated its access to the global financial system in exchange for more than one million artillery shells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0160astako\u016d’s visit took place three months after Foreign Minister Siarhiej Alejnik and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong had a conversation on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Kampala, Uganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both events stand out on the North Korean track after Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka’s September 2023 suggestion that Russian President Vladimir Putin consider three-way cooperation between Belarus, North Korea and Russia, the retired diplomat said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expansion of ties between Belarus, North Korea and Russia comes at a time when all three are “involved in separate confrontations with the United States and its allies” over human rights abuses, North Korea\u2019s nuclear program, Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine and Belarus\u2019 support of the war, the ex-diplomat noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyongyang is likely to use the diplomatic meetings to persuade Minsk to open its embassy in North Korea, despite the lack of economic interest on the part of Belarus, the expert said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sides may also try to revive a bilateral commission on trade and economic cooperation, which last met in 2006, the source added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The North Korean ambassador presented credentials to \u0141uka\u0161enka in 2020 after Pyongyang upgraded its trade mission in Minsk to an embassy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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