PYONGYANG — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, on March 25, 2026. The visit to North Korea is Lukashenko's first visit to the country.

Lukashenko is expected to hold talks with Kim Jong Un during his visit. North Korean official Kim Tok Hun greeted Lukashenko at Pyongyang's airport.

Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov said the countries will sign a friendship and cooperation treaty during the visit. Bilateral ties between North Korea and Belarus are on the agenda of talks between their leaders.

Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un last met in September 2025 in Beijing. In 2024, Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov visited North Korea.

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for over three decades. He is a close ally of the Kremlin.

Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He authorized the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Kim Jong Un sent thousands of troops and large quantities of weapons to support Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Kim Jong Un pursued a foreign policy aimed at expanding ties with countries that oppose Washington.

Kim Tok Hun was appointed vice premier in a recent appointment.