North Korean Premier Kim Tok-hun, right, meets with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Vladimirovich Ryzhenkov at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, July 25, in this photo provided by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap

The president of Belarus has called for "further expanding cooperation" with North Korea in a message sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang's foreign ministry said Friday, amid speculation that the nations will seek to strengthen trilateral cooperation with Russia.

"I affirm that I will work to further expand cooperation with the DPRK to make it full of new content, and common programs of giving mutual benefits to the improved well-being of the peoples of our countries," Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was quoted as saying in the letter sent on July 15.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In a congratulatory message sent to Lukashenko on the occasion of National Day in Belarus earlier this month, Kim said he is certain that their countries' traditional friendly ties will expand in all areas in accordance with the demand of the new times.

The North's foreign ministry disclosed the letter on its web site as Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Vladimirovich Ryzhenkov arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a four-day visit.

The top diplomat has held talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui, and paid a courtesy call on Premier Kim Tok-hun, joined by officials from the North's agriculture, education and health ministries, raising views the two nations may seek to expand cooperation in the respective areas. (Yonhap)