North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomes Belarusian president Lukashenko in Pyongyang

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang with full ceremonial honors, including gun salutes and a marching honor guard. The meeting between the two authoritarian leaders highlights strengthening ties between their isolated regimes. Both countries face international sanctions and have developed closer relationships with Russia, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The visit represents part of a broader alignment among countries opposed to Western influence, with North Korea and Belarus both providing support to Russia's war effort.