Diplomatic relations with North Korea are only seven years old but are steadily strengthening, South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad said in Pyongyang on Tuesday.
His visit was part of a three-nation trip to central and east Asia that included South Korea and China, comes in the context of South Africa’s commitment to consolidate relations with all countries of the South.
”We will do this through the framework of the Asian-African Strategic Partnership acceded to by Asian and African heads of state and government at the Asia-Africa Summit in Indonesia in April,” he said.
The New Strategic Partnership mandated Asian and African heads of state and government to work to consolidate economic relations between both regions.
While in North Korea, Pahad held political and economic discussions with the President of the Presidium, Kim Yong Nam, Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hyong Jun and Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Myong San, the foreign affairs department said.
He conveyed the congratulations of the South African government to the leadership of North Korea on having reached an agreement during the latest round of six-party talks, aimed at resolving the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula.
Pahad said that the world and indeed South Africa would be eagerly following the November talks. He also encouraged the leadership to remain committed to implementing the joint statement since the resolution of the issue on the Korean peninsula would bode well for international peace, security and stability and reunification of both North and South Korea.
Pahad briefed the Korean leadership on Nepad and reiterated the South African government’s position that it cannot remain an island of prosperity in a sea of underdevelopment and poverty.
The President of the Presidium, Kim Yong Nam, and Vice Minister Kim Hyong Jun also briefed Pahad extensively on the North Korean intention and desire to reunite with South Korea.
Both sides agreed to co-operate within multilateral forums.
Pahad encouraged the North Korean government to investigate opportunities through which economic relations could be increased between both countries.
The North Koreans expressed an interest in the deployment of a science and technology delegation to South Africa.
In addition, co-operation in the fields of mining, oil exploration and drilling, railway development and energy production would be further investigated.
South African parastatals and the private sector were invited to participate in the trade fair held annually during May in Pyongyang.
”This will provide an excellent opportunity for the South African business sector to market their products and technical skills to the North Korean government,” Pahad said.
Pahad would return to South Africa on Wednesday, the department said. – Sapa