Head of the Department of Information — Press Secretary of the MFA of Belarus D.Mironchik answers the question of the Internet Portal TUT.BY (Belarus)

27 September 2016

27-09-2016

Internet portal TUT.BY (Belarus): Last week News Agency of North Korea reported the opening of the DPRK Embassy in Minsk. Is it so?

D.Mironchik: Of course, ahead of news of nuclear tests conducted by North Korea, that, by the way, were clearly and negatively estimated by Belarus, any message with reference to North Korea amounts to sensation. Though there is nothing sensational in the information on the establishment of the embassy. Embassies of around 30 countries are operating in Pyongyang. And that’s not only Embassies of China or Russia, but also of Austria, France, Germany and Poland. North Korean Embassies also operate on a regular basis in almost four dozen countries, for example, in the Czech Republic, Sweden, Mexico and South Africa …

It is a normal diplomatic practice. History shows that dialogue is better than threats, blackmail and conversations “over the fence”. We are in favour of the use of the direct dialogue to resolve any conflicts, and we consistently and for a long time adhere to this position.

What concerns Belarus and North Korea. Belarus and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992 that implies the possibility of opening by mutual agreement of the Embassies to support the cooperation.

North Korea called on the Belarusian side to open the Embassy long before current escalation of the situation around the North Korean nuclear program. It was done during the visit of DPRK's Foreign Minister to Belarus in March 2015. At the same time we agreed to develop trade and economic relations, which is important for Belarus that has an open economy.

After this visit, three North Korean diplomats, that are responsible for trade and economic relations, were accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus.

We do not have a full-fledged North Korean Embassy in Belarus: the Ambassador is not accredited, agreation is not requested, and the decision on this issue will be taken separately.

In any case, the position of Belarus regarding recent actions that North Korea has taken against the international law and the UN Security Council resolutions remain unchanged.

Belarus has never violated and does not intend to violate international obligations and norms of international law enshrined in the UN and other international organizations documents.