Belarus, North Korea sign friendship, cooperation treaty

MINSK. March 26 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea Kim Jong Un have signed a treaty on friendship and cooperation between the two countries, Lukashenko's press service said in a statement.

"We are opposed to the unlawful pressure being exerted on Belarus by the West and we express our support and understanding of the measures taken by the leadership of Belarus to maintain social and political stability and economic development," Kim Jong Un said when commenting on the results of the talks and the signed document.

"We express our solidarity and full support for Belarus, which aims to pursue an independent policy in line with its reality, achieve peace and development, also continuing to advance relations with traditionally friendly countries," he said.

The government and the people of Belarus "have been making remarkable successes in defending the sovereignty of its rights and interests, in security, as well as in the economy's stable development," the North Korean leader said.