Lukashenko counts on Russia’s Primorye to facilitate Belarus-North Korea trade

MINSK, 1 June (BelTA) – I am counting on the mediation services of Russia’s Primorye Territory in trade between Belarus and the DPRK, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Primorye Territory Governor Oleg Kozhemyako in Minsk on 1 June, BelTA has learned.

“I was in the DPRK quite recently. You know, the leader [Kim Jong Un] made a very strong impression on me. A smart man! A young, promising person focused on cooperation. He is not any kind of dictator or anything like that. In fact, he simply cannot be a dictator. So we have established good relations. And we are counting on you, Oleg Nikolayevich [Kozhemyako], to provide us with mediation services in trade with the DPRK, just as we once discussed,” the president said.

He noted that the DPRK leader and the head of Primorye know each other and have good relations. “He told me a lot about you. I said: ‘Well, he is our man, our friend.’ He was pleased and supported this idea of Belarus-Primorye-DPRK cooperation,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

In this context, Oleg Kozhemyako noted that the automobile bridge across the Tumen River connecting Russia with the DPRK is now being put into operation. Previously, the two countries were connected only by the single Friendship railway bridge. “We have the railway crossing, the ferry service and the road bridge are being launched. Therefore, we have already begun working through all issues related to the supply of goods and mutual settlements,” the governor said.

Continuing the conversation, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked: “In some areas, we will be able to lend our support. But mainly, you will provide support to us. And this will be beneficial for Primorye as well. It will be another lever, another direction for Primorye’s development.”

“Yes, they do have demand for your goods: both equipment and products. So I think this will be a convenient route for them. Overall, the relations have already been worked out. Therefore, of course, we will gladly join this work,” Oleg Kozhemyako confirmed. “And besides, our relations allow us to do this openly and without any additional complications.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko drew separate attention to this topic for Head of the Belarus President Administration Dmitry Krutoi: “Dmitry Nikolayevich [Krutoi], this must be kept in mind. They can help us a great deal. We are not going to reinvent the wheel. They invented it long ago.”