The foreign ministers of North Korea and Belarus vowed to usher in a new era of bilateral ties on Wednesday, during a rare meeting in Pyongyang to discuss cooperation between the two Russian allies on food security, trade and other areas.

Belarussian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov discussed boosting relations with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui on Wednesday, as well as with Minister of External Economic Relations Yun Jong Ho, according to a brief report carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

Choe also helda welcoming banquet for Ryzhenkov’s delegation on Tuesday, pledging to “open a new