North Korean foreign minister in Yangon for talks

Jul 29, 2010, 6:11 GMT

Yangon - North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun arrived in Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon Thursday, a further sign of warming ties between the two Asian pariah states.

A witness said a delegation led by Pak arrived at Yangon's Sedona Hotel at 9:15 am (0245 GMT). He was scheduled to visit Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda and the National Museum later in the day.

Pak was scheduled for talks with his Myanmar counterpart, Foreign Minister Nyan Win, and Information Minister Kyaw Hsan in Myanmar's new administrative capital at Nay Pyi Taw on Friday, an official who requested anonymity said.

The agenda for the talks was not disclosed and government leaders on both sides appeared to want to keep the visit low-profile.

Both countries are viewed with extreme suspicion by their neighbours, and the world community has imposed economic and political sanctions against them for their human rights violations.

But their common pariah status has moved them to embrace each other, despite a bumpy bilateral history.

Myanmar cut diplomatic ties with Pyongyang in 1983 after North Korean agents planted a bomb at the Martyrs Mausoleum in Yangon in an attempt to kill visiting South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan and his cabinet.

The explosion killed 21 people, including four South Korean cabinet ministers, but the president survived.

Myanmar restored diplomatic ties with North Korea in April 2007.

Western nations recently voiced concern over reports that North Korea was helping Myanmar to pursue a clandestine nuclear weapons programme.