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DPRK Seeks Good Ties with Neighbours, Western World
As a result of the government's active diplomacy and recent multilateral initiatives, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is making new headway with neighbouring states, the West and other countries.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have clearly eased, and relations between the north and south have improved since a landmark summit here in June. At the summit, DPRK leader Kim Jong Il and ROK President Kim Dae-jung signed a co-operative declaration.
The first-ever inter-Korean summit, after a 55-year division of the peninsula, marked a turning point in relations. Such improvement will benefit peace and reunification on the Korean peninsula, northeastern Asia and the world at large.
The warming trend also gives new opportunities to the DPRK.
And the DPRK's long-standing good ties with China have grown further.
Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, visited China in May.
By choosing China as his first foreign destination, where he discussed international issues, Kim made it clear that the DPRK values promoting ties with China.
DPRK-US relations have also improved. After last September's Berlin meeting, the DPRK promised to suspend nuclear tests, while the US announced plans to lift some of its sanctions against the DPRK. The two sides met again in March and May to continue discussions on remaining issues.
And on July 15, the US Government pledged to give 50,000 tons of wheat to the DPRK.
This month, DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met for the first ministerial meeting in more than half a century.
Now the two sides are preparing to meet in Washington. Frequent dialogue between the two countries will help the DPRK to expand diplomacy and gain international monetary support.
Meanwhile, DPRK-Japan relations are thawing. In December, the DPRK invited former Japanese Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichia and a delegation of Japanese political parties to Pyongyang. There they agreed to talk further and that Japan would resume food aid to the DPRK.
Soon after that, Japan announced the lifting of sanctions against the DPRK.
In April, the two countries resumed normal-relations talks, stalled for eight years. They discussed historical issues and reached a degree of consensus.
A few days ago, foreign ministers from the two neighbours issued a joint statement agreeing to work towards good neighbourly relations, settle existing bilateral problems and enhance exchanges.
They agreed to start a new round of normalization talks in Tokyo on August 21-26.
Pyongyang has also set off to make peace with Russia. The two sides signed a co-operative treaty in February. On July 19, Putin visited the DPRK, and the two sides reached further agreements. Both countries deemed the visit a milestone in their bilateral relations.
On Wednesday, Russia announced that DPRK leader Kim Jong Il will visit Russia.
The DPRK has established or restored official relations with Italy, Australia and the Philippines. The United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, France, Canada and Myanmar are on the list, too.
Meanwhile, the DPRK has been seeking representation in regional and international organizations to raise its international status. The DPRK has become a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum, a multilateral body concerned with regional security.
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