In new push, N. Korea seeks ties with 9 European nations
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, September 21, 2000
NICOSIA — North Korea has embarked on yet another diplomatic
initiative to end its Cold War isolationism.
Pyongyang has proposed rapprochement with several European countries,
including France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Belgium, Britain, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands and Spain.
In letters sent to the foreign ministers of those countries, North
Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun offered to establish diplomatic
relations.
Paek also sent a letter to the external relations commissioner of the
European Commission.
"The establishment and development of the relations between the
Democratic People's Republic of [North] Korea and those countries will give
an affirmative effect on finally liquidating the leftover of the Cold War
and ensuring peace and security in Northeast Asia and the rest of the
world," the letter said. North Korea "always pursues the policy of opening
and developing friendly and cooperative relations with any country that
respects independence and does not interfere in its internal affairs."
This year, North Korea has already established diplomatic
relations with Australia, the Philippines, Italy and Canada.
On Tuesday, a delegation of New Zealand officials arrived in North Korea
to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
In Seoul, U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen expressed
optimism that the outcome of the meeting between North and South Korea
scheduled for Monday to Tuesday in South Korea's resort island of Cheju
could significantly reduce the threat of war in the region.
"They will hopefully discuss ways in which there can be a consideration
of so-called confidence-building measures," Cohen said Thursday.
But South Korean Defense Minister Cho Sung-tae was not as optimistic.
"I have some reservations and doubts about how far we can move on
confidence-building measures at our first meeting," Cho said. "Despite the
changes, there has been little real progress in dismantling military
tensions between the two Koreas, as North Korea's military threat remains the
same."