North Korean envoy Ri Su-yong has met with the foreign minister of Belarus during a stop in Minsk.
The Belarusian side says it is interested in opening lines of communication with North Korea in areas including trade and economics.
For his part, Ri Su-yong says North Korea and Belarus have many common interests.
"As the minister just mentioned, both sides exchanged opinions on various questions on the whole range of our relations, including the development of the political, economic, and humanitarian ties between North Korea and Belarus, and also exchanged opinions on the questions that present mutual interest in regional and international affairs."
Ri Su-yong has been making a number of overseas diplomatic trips in recent weeks as the North Korean government prepares for top leader Kim Jong-un's first overseas trip since taking office.
He'll be heading to Russia later on this year to take part in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of defeat of the Nazi's.
