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France, DPRK Hold First Ministerial Meeting
France and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held their first ministerial meeting on Thursday in Bangkok on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) on security issues, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
French Minister-Delegate of Cooperation Charles Josselin and DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun met for 45 minutes in a hotel, said AFP.
Josselin described the DPRK's entry into the ARF as a positive step which will contribute to reducing tension in the region.
"I think that there is a will of move from the side of the DPRK. We hope that this is the beginning of an evolution which will lead to the reconciliation of the Koreans and thus become one more step in the peace and stability of this region," AFP quoted Josselin as saying.
The minister said that the EU always encourages direct dialogue between the two Koreas and the recent historic summit meeting between DPRK leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung "has opened important trails of dialogue."
France and the DPRK do not have diplomatic relations, but the DPRK has its diplomatic representation in Paris for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
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