Smiles, handshakes and only optimistic future cooperation. Belarus willingly pals around with dictatorial countries: the North Korean FM is visiting Belarus. There are hopes for prosperity of the domestic economy, but such cooperation may also bring threats.
English subtitles:
This could be the beginning of a great friendship. During their meeting Foreign Ministers Uladzimir Makey and Ri Su-yong noted the high potential of the relations between Belarus and North Korea, discussed local and international issues. The North Korean Minister invited his Belarusian counterpart to Pyongyang.
Ri Su-yong, North Korean FM:
“It is a great satisfaction to mention that we have similar and identical positions in all of the issues raised.”
The diplomats expressed interest in developing trade and economic relations.
Uladzimir Makey, Belarusian FM:
“Our countries have common goals, i.e. to develop a stable and independent economy, improve people’s living standards.”
Well-being in North Korean style is hard manual labour, agriculture with natural fertilisers and without GMO that leads to malnutrition of its citizens, including children. It is also 10-year military service, military parades and marches of ‘grateful’ citizens.
The most industrious and loyal employees are even allowed to go abroad – to China, Russia and Belarus where they work for pennies that go into the country’s budget then. Politically unreliable people are sent to labour camps where prisoners work until they die.
Siarhei Vazniak, once visited North Korea:
“If the anti-democratic Belarus is covered with some democratic decorations, and we can say that we have an authoritarian regime that shows itself in a milder or a more cruel way, North Korea is a dictatorial regime in its ultimate form.”
And all this is done to have enough money for a favorite hobby of the Brilliant Comrade. 33-year-old Kim Jong-un cannot imagine his life without large-scale exercises with simulated attacks on neighbours and programs on inventing a ballistic nuclear bomb. Be Juche means to be in the circle of enemies.
Ri Su-yong, North Korean FM:
“North Korea cannot but augment its nuclear deterrence capability as it has to cope with the nuclear threat from the U.S. Now the DPRK has the power to deter the United States, and if necessary – for a preventive strike.”
North Korea probably wants to buy Belarusian tractors, MAZ trucks, communications, laser equipment, chips and optics – and technology to organise domestic production of the goods above, which are necessary for both peaceful living and for war.
Aliaksandr Alesin, military expert:
“Korea needs dual-use technology and for industry, transportation, agriculture – and for defence. Of course, they would like to buy weapons, but Belarus will not dare“.
Siarhei Vazniak:
“If our country happens to have a finger in it, it will face big foreign policy problems.”
There is another dark story – Korea sells nuclear technology to the same rogue states developing the so-called ‘peaceful atom’. If Pyongyang and Minsk start cooperation like this, Belarus could forget about good relations with the West.
Yaraslau Stseshyk, Belsat
