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British Foreign Secretary Holds Talks With DPRK Delegation
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook on Tuesday held talks with a delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to cement the newly-established diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Cook discussed a number of issues with the DPRK delegation led by Ri Yong Ho, counselor of the DPRK foreign ministry, the issues include human rights and non-proliferation, British Foreign Office said in a statement.
After the meeting, Cook said he believed the meeting could be the start of a close relationship between the two countries.
"I hope that United Kingdom-Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea relations will continue to grow and develop, through an expansion of political, economic, trade and cultural links between our two countries," he said.
Cook also gave his endorsement to the move towards closer cooperation between Pyongyang and Seoul. The two have been involved in a tense standoff since the end of the Korean war in 1953.
"I welcome the recent positive developments in inter-Korean relations. The U.K. will continue to support the process of dialogue between the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea," said Cook.
Britain and the DPRK established diplomatic relations for the first time last December. But the two countries have not yet exchanged ambassadors.
Britain has appointed James Hoare, a senior diplomat who is an expert on East-Asian issues, as an interim charge d'Affaires to Pyongyang.
Hoare will be based in Seoul but will travel regularly to Pyongyang, the foreign office said.
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