Belarus leader visits North Korea for first time

SEOUL – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko began on March 25 his first official visit to North Korea, with the two countries united by Western sanctions, closeness to Russia and accusations of rights violations. Belarusian state news agency Belta said the two-day visit was to deepen ties and “identify key areas of mutual interest and the most promising projects for implementation”. Both nations have provided Moscow assistance with its war in Ukraine, with Pyongyang dispatching ground troops and weapons and Minsk serving as a launchpad for Russia’s invasion in 2022. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Mr Lukashenko met in…