EU to open North Korea ties

An EU delegation visited North Korea 10 days ago

The European Commission is to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea, one of the world's most isolated states.

The executive body of the European Union said it hoped the move would encourage reconciliation between North and South Korea and help ease serious food and health concerns in the North.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after an unprecedented high-level EU visit to Pyongyang, led by Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il promised the EU that he would keep a ban on missile testing in place until 2003, and open discussions with the EU about human rights in his country.

European officials have stressed that they are not trying to replace the United States as an intermediary between North and South Korea, which have technically been at war for more than 50 years.

Contact suspended

Washington has suspended contacts with Pyongyang while the new Bush administration reviews its North Korea policy.

Mr Armitage: Review done soon

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said last week that the review should be completed soon and that contacts may resume within a month.

South Korea welcomed the EU announcement.

The country's Foreign Ministry said the decision would "contribute to achieving peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and improving inter-Korean relations".

The European Commission plans to start talks soon with Pyongyang about specifics of the diplomatic relationship.