North Korea and Belarus Sign Friendship Treaty as Kim Jong Un Receives Gun Gift

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made his first visit to North Korea, where he and Kim Jong Un signed a friendship treaty marking a fundamentally new stage in relations between the two Russia-aligned states. During meetings in Pyongyang, Lukashenko gifted Kim an automatic rifle while Kim reciprocated with a sword and vase, as both leaders emphasized cooperation against Western pressure. The agreement covers fields from agriculture to public health and comes as both nations face heavy Western sanctions for human rights abuses and supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russia, while Ukraine accuses Russia of using Belarusian territory as a launchpad for attacks.

Belarus-North Korea Friendship Treaty and Gift Exchange

• ▪Alexander Lukashenko described the Belarus-North Korea friendship treaty as fundamental
• ▪Alexander Lukashenko told Kim Jong Un he brought him an automatic rifle just in case enemies appear
• ▪Kim Jong Un said the Belarus-North Korea friendship treaty would further guarantee the stable development of bilateral relations
• ▪Kim Jong Un gave Alexander Lukashenko a sword and a vase featuring a portrait of the Belarusian leader
• ▪Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a rifle during their meeting in Pyongyang

Geopolitical Alignment Against Western Pressure

• ▪Alexander Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un are both key supporters of Russia's war in Ukraine

North Korea and Belarus Support for Russia's War in Ukraine

• ▪More than 10,000 North Koreans are estimated to have been deployed to fight alongside Russia
• ▪Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Pyongyang will always be with Moscow

Perspective of North Korea and Belarus

• ▪The Belarus-North Korea treaty aims to guarantee stable development of bilateral relations between Minsk and Pyongyang
• ▪The Belarus-North Korea friendship treaty represents a fundamentally new stage in bilateral relations between the two countries

Perspective of Western governments and Ukraine

• ▪The West views North Korea's deployment of over 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russia as a significant escalation