한국 언론 보도에 대한 주한 벨라루스 대사 논평
01.06.2026 г.2026년 5월 27일, 대한민국의 영문 정기간행물인 ‘코리아 헤럴드’에는 “한-리투아니아 국방 협력은 상호 호혜적이다(https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10756119)”라는 제목의 기사가 게재되었습니다. 해당 기사는 리투아니아 국가안보보좌관 마툴리오니스와의 인터뷰 형식으로 작성되었으며, 그는 인터뷰에서 벨라루스에서 리투아니아로의 담배 밀수를 언급하면서 이를 ‘하이브리드 위협’으로 규정하고, 이를 대한민국과 북한 간 국경에서 발생한 사건들과 비교하였습니다. 또한 마툴리오니스 보좌관은 “러시아의 패배가 세계 안정의 기본 전제(«meanwhile, the adviser also called for deeper cooperation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific region, arguing that Russia’s defeat is essential to global stability»)”라고 주장하며 인도·태평양 지역과 북대서양조약기구(NATO) 간 보다 긴밀한 협력의 필요성을 강조하였습니다.
해당 기사에는 허위 정보와 함께 리투아니아 측 인사의 명백한 사실 왜곡이 포함되어 있었기에, 이에 대한 논평과 함께 마툴리오니스 보좌관이 벨라루스-리투아니아 국경에서 발생한 사건들에 리투아니아 당국자들이 관여한 사실을 그가 의도적으로 언급하지 않았음을 입증하는 자료를 해당 기자에게 전달하였습니다. 그러나 안타깝게도 코리아헤럴드는 벨라루스와 러시아에 대한 리투아니아 국가안보보좌관의 발언과 관련하여 벨라루스 대사의 논평을 게재하지 않았습니다.
대한민국 사회가 균형 있고 객관적인 정보에 접근할 권리가 있다는 점을 고려하여, 벨라루스 대사는 외교공관이 보유한 수단과 역량의 범위 내에서 해당 한국 언론사에 전달한 자료를 공개하는 것이 본인의 의무라고 생각합니다. 아울러 이 자료를 접하게 될 대한민국 독자들이 세계 및 지역 안정에 무엇이 진정으로 “필수적”인지를 스스로 판단할 수 있으리라 믿습니다.
Having read the article titled «Lithuania-Korea defense partnership a ‘win-win’» thoroughly, I wish South Korea success in supplying arms to the European market. It is easy to guess what these supplies will lead to. The consequences of these supplies are also not difficult to predict. Regarding the so-called cigarette-laden balloons flying to Lithuania: firstly, they are not metal (in the article, they are called “metal balloons”), but rubber, filled with gas, like any balloons—there are no metal balloons. Therefore, the Lithuanian National Security Advisor either lied here or is simply incompetent. Also, when the Advisor compares the situation on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border with the situation on the Korean border, he forgets to mention that it is not garbage and leaflets that are flying to Lithuania from Belarus, but goods. Why do they fly there? Because these goods are cheaper in Belarus than in Lithuania. Who accepts them in Lithuania? — Lithuanian citizens who make a good living from this, reselling them in Lithuania, and possibly in other EU countries as well. The Belarusian citizens in Lithuania belong to the so-called Belarusian opposition, which the Lithuanian authorities themselves invited into their country before. Therefore, it is strange to blame the Belarusian authorities for this process. Especially since Lithuania arrested a whole group of Lithuanian citizens in May of this year on charges of smuggling, including employees of Lithuanian government agencies. I'm attaching a link to the article – https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2936104/lithuania-detains-27-in-smuggling-probe-including-police-officers-border-guards?srsltid=AfmBOopWA8B6XIT2KzPOjrwmQc_GGN4dLrb-QhGPPm7au85KOZz3ctmb
Is Belarus also to blame for this?
I would also like to note that our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly offered to hold consultations with the Lithuanian side on this issue. But Lithuania stubbornly refuses to accept our proposals. Isn't it because some people in Lithuania are successfully profiting from the business of smuggling cigarettes from Belarus, and the National Security Advisor is well aware of this? And regarding the analogy with the situation on the Korean border—if and when cigarettes start flying from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Republic of Korea—I would be very concerned about the state of the South Korean economy. Therefore, when Lithuanian citizens and officials, living in what the Lithuanian government calls a “thriving” economy, are forced to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus, it naturally raises questions: is Lithuania's economy truly thriving? And how does economically “thriving” Lithuania intend to increase its military spending to 5.4 percent if its citizens are forced to smuggle cigarettes? How does Lithuania intend to pay for arms supplies from South Korea? Or is all the rhetoric of Mr. Lithuania's National Security Advisor nothing more than a provocation, another attempt to drag South Korea into the objectively existing confrontation on the European continent? This is confirmed by Mr. Advisor's words about the “necessity of defeating Russia.” Having lived in South Korea for quite some time, I've often witnessed bellicose statements from citizens of other countries about “Korea's role in containing China.” Now, I hear it being called “defeating Russia.” To what extent do such calls serve the interests of the South Korean people? I'm sure such verbal escapades come from people who neither love nor understand this amazing country, with its ancient history, impressive economic successes, and wonderful people who have no need for war.
I would be grateful if you would publish the above opinion.
Lithuania detains 27 in smuggling probe, including police officers, border guards.
