Seoul: North Korea and Belarus are on the verge of finalizing a visa-waiver agreement for ordinary citizens, according to Belarus' state media.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Belarusian news agency BelTA reported that Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov recently discussed the prospective deal with North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui. The discussions also included other aspects of bilateral relations, such as the anticipated contacts through foreign ministries and the signing of several agreements.

Ryzhenkov stated, "We will sign it in the very near future," highlighting the progress made, with only "some technical details" remaining to be resolved. This initiative follows the March summit in Pyongyang where Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un solidified an agreement on friendship and cooperation. During that summit, Lukashenko received an assault rifle from Kim, symbolizing the budding relationship.

The evolving alliance between the two nations is further evidenced by Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin's decision in April to open a Belarusian Embassy in Pyongyang. North Korea appears to be strengthening its ties with Belarus, an ally of Russia. In June 2024, Pyongyang and Moscow signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which includes a mutual defense clause.

South Korea's unification ministry noted the difficulty in confirming which countries have visa-waiver agreements for ordinary North Korean citizens. Pyongyang is known to have agreements for diplomats and civil servants and is believed to have similar arrangements with allies like China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. North Korea reportedly has a similar agreement with Russia, though specifics are unclear.