Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad to host North Korean Counterpart Vice Minister Kim Hyong Jun for Discussions

Pretoria - Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will host his counterpart from the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Vice Minister Kim Hyong Jun for bilateral political and economic discussions at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday, 11 July 2006.

Discussions between Deputy Minister Pahad and his counterpart Vice Minister Hyong Jun come within the context of South Africa's commitment to promote South-South co-operation for increased market access, trade and investment and consolidation of the developmental agenda of the South.

Vice President of the Presidium of the DPRK Yang Hyong Sop paid an official visit to South Africa in March 2005 and Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad was hosted by his counterpart Vice Minister Hyong Jun in the DPRK on an official visit in September 2005.

Issues on the agenda of discussions between Deputy Minister Pahad and Vice Minister Hyong Jun on Tuesday 11 July 2006 are expected to include, among others:

• Bilateral political and economic relations between both countries;
• A briefing on the situation in the Korean peninsula with regard to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear disarmament within the context of the Six-Party Talks;
• Possible co-operation projects between South Africa and the DPRK in the sectors of arts and culture, trade and mining; and
• Other issues of mutual interest.

Bilateral Political and Economic Relations

Subsequent to the hosting of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Durban in August 1998, South Africa entered into diplomatic relations with all members of the NAM with which it had not yet established diplomatic relations. As a result, South Africa and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) concluded diplomatic relations on 10 August 1998.

North Korea decided on non-residential representation from Dar-Es-Salaam, while South Africa decided on non-residential representation from Beijing. On 5 March 2002, North Korea initiated the process of opening a residential Embassy in Pretoria, and Ambassador Kun Gwang Pak presented his credentials to President Thabo Mbeki on 19 November 2002.

The bilateral trade between South Africa and North Korea is as follows:

Exports to North Korea consists mainly of mineral and chemical products as well as prepared foodstuffs, whilst imports consisted mainly of textiles and base metals.

During September 2004 a South African delegation visited the DPRK to honour a long-standing invitation by North Korea for a South African delegation to visit that country. The visit laid the foundation to strengthen and further develop mutually beneficial relations between South Africa and North Korea.

During the visit a Letter of Intent on co-operation was signed between the Department of Foreign Affairs of South Africa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK. This document should lay the foundation for the further development of relations between the two countries.

In March 2005, the Deputy President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Mr. YANG Hyong Sop, accompanied by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and a delegation of senior officials from the ministries of Trade and Foreign Affairs of North Korea visited South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

The Deputy President Mr. Yang Hyong Sop and his delegation were in South Africa from 16 to 20 March 2005. They were hosted by the then Deputy President Jacob Zuma and also paid a courtesy call on the President Thabo Mbeki. In addition the delegation visited other places of interest such as the Cullinan Diamond mine and MINTEK.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

4 July 2006