Minsk, Pyongyang agree on cooperation 'at various levels'

MINSK. July 24 (Interfax) - Belarus and North Korea agreed to intensify contacts at various levels at negotiations between Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said.

"The parties have had an in-depth discussion on the entire range of bilateral issues and agreed on specific measures to intensify contacts between the two countries at various levels. Agreements have been reached on steps that would be taken shortly to further develop the international treaty framework and intensify interaction between the foreign policy agencies and along a number of avenues," it said.

The two countries are particularly interested in cooperating in the healthcare, education, agriculture, culture, and sports sectors, it said.

The North Korean foreign minister supported Belarus's efforts to oppose sanctions and other restrictions by a group of Western countries.

The Belarusian delegation also negotiated with North Korean Minister of External Economic Relations and Co-Chairman of the Joint Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation Yun Jong Ho to address bilateral economic cooperation in areas not subject to UN Security Council restrictions.

"In this context, special significance was attached to food security, education and healthcare, and mutual deliveries of certain goods, including shipments of Belarusian food products to the DPRK and traditional Korean cosmetics to the Belarusian market," it said.