SEOUL - North Korean officials met a visiting Belarusian delegation and vowed deeper cooperation, as Pyongyang criticised the US for trying to increase “lawless” sanctions pressure.

Belarus’ Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeny Shestakov and his North Korean counterpart Im Chon Il discussed bilateral cooperation in the sectors of economy and culture as well as mutual support on the global stage during talks on April 18, North Korean state media KCNA reported on April 19.

The visit is the latest in a series of diplomatic exchanges after Pyongyang lifted Covid-19 restrictions.

In a statement carried by another KCNA report, Mr Kim Son Gyong, vice-minister for International Organisations of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, criticised Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the United Nations, for her recent trip to South Korea and Japan, calling the UN sanctions against the country “lawless”.

Russia has rejected the annual renewal of the multinational panel of experts that has over the past 15 years monitored the implementation of UN sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes.

Mr Shestakov arrived in Pyongyang on April 16, KCNA reported earlier this week without elaborating.

North Korean delegations since March have visited countries including China and Vietnam while delegations from Russia and China have visited Pyongyang. REUTERS