UK and North Korea forge ties

A vision of the future from South Korea's Shi-Sa news magazine

Britain is planning to normalise diplomatic relations with North Korea, the world's most secretive state.

There have never been ties between the two countries in the half century of communist North Korea's existence.

Kim Jong-il: Opening up to the world

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook made the announcement in the South Korean capital Seoul where he is attending the third Asia-Europe Meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair, who hailed a "historic breakthrough" in the region..

The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, has since announced that his government would follow suit altough he gave no timetable for the establishment of full diplomatic ties.

'Step towards peace'

Mr Cook told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the move could help ease tensions between North and South Korea.

But he denied that it implied acceptance of the regime or its human rights record.

"This opening of diplomatic relations is not in any way an approval of the conduct of the regime," Mr Cook said.

"If our action, and the action of similar like-minded European countries, helps to take forward that process of reducing the tension between the two countries, there will be a valuable and helpful step towards world peace."

The Koreas: Divided for more than half a century

Mr Cook added that diplomatic recognition could lead to increased humanitarian aid to North Korea to alleviate famine - as long as the aid reached those in need.

"We have got to be careful that, if we are providing food aid, it is getting to the people who really need it - the rural poor and those without power in the system - and doesn't become a means of supporting the military regime," he said.

Mr Cook said South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung was keen that other nations "should help to engage North Korea by bringing it in from the cold".

Last week President Kim was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for his efforts to reconcile the two Koreas.

Blair tribute

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, addressing local businessmen, paid tribute to President Kim and welcomed progress towards peace on the Korean peninsula.

"I have no doubt that we have witnessed a historic breakthrough over the last months, one that will improve the lives of all the people of the Korean peninsular, that will make Korea a stronger country and the world a safer place.

"I support fully President Kim's commitment to reconciliation with North Korea.

"That task of reconciliation in Korea is immense. Just the absence of conflict is not enough. We have to go further - spreading prosperity, building confidence, bringing people and families together, banishing the prospect of war for ever."

Mr Blair was speaking during a trip aimed at boosting commercial ties between South Korea and Britain.

US moves

The normalisation of relations comes as American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright prepares to fly to North Korea on Sunday for an unprecedented meeting with its leader, Kim Jong-il.

Mrs Albright, who will spend two days in North Korea, will be the highest ranking American official to visit the country.

The US is concerned about North Korea's military intentions

If her trip is successful, US President Bill Clinton could visit the North Korean capital Pyongyang as early as next month.

North Korea wants Washington to remove it from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

But Pyongyang will have to allay US concerns about nuclear proliferation and its production of long-range missiles.

Washington is also keen to see a reduction of tensions along the demilitarised zone that separates the two Koreas.

And it wants to obtain further help from the North in the search for remains of US servicemen killed during the Korean War.

There are still 37,000 US troops in South Korea, but analysts say there is no prospect of them leaving the peninsula soon, even if relations with Pyongyang continue to improve.