MOSCOW, March 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will travel to North Korea this week, state media said Tuesday, as the two Russian allies deepen ties.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited Lukashenko for a two-day official visit on Wednesday and Thursday "to strengthen bilateral cooperation," media outlets close to Lukashenko's office reported.

Both countries have provided support for Russia in its war on Ukraine and are adversaries of the West.

Russian troops used Belarusian territory to launch their offensive on Ukraine in February 2022, while North Korea dispatched troops to fight alongside Russia's army.