European Troika will outline, Saturday in Pyongyang, new guidelines for EU action for North Korea

Brussels, 24/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - Lead by the Asia Director from the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Dominique Girard, a European Troika will present new guidelines for European action vis-à-vis North Korea, during its visit to Pyongyang, this 25 November.

In the conclusions adopted last 9 October, the General Affairs Council had encouraged the strengthening of the political dialogue with North Korea, in order to support the rapprochement process between the two Koreas, while emphasising European concerns (see EUROPE of 12 October, p.5). The action guidelines defined during the General Affairs Council, this week, specify the elements that will be "taken into account" in the development of European Union relations and those of the Member States with the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, namely:

• "The effective pursuit by Pyongyang of the rapprochement started with the Korean Republic and the respect of undertakings taken towards this country", as well as the parallel development of relations with other parties, "without affecting either of these contacts";
• "A responsible behaviour with regard to nuclear and ballistic non-proliferation". The EU calls for among others on North Korea to: (1) respect its undertaking in the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); (2) sign and ratify the comprehensive nuclear test ban Treaty; (3) adhere to other non-proliferation arrangements; (4) accede to the code of conduct that has just been adopted in connection with the MTCR;
• Respect for the United Nations Pacts on Human Rights;
• Access by the population to external aid and the possibility of foreign NGOs to work in North Korea under satisfactory conditions, as well as the opening up by the Korean authorities to economic trade and other expressions of good will and transparency such as the granting of visas to journalists.

The European move will be based on measures for the encouragement defined by the Council in October, recall the Ministers in their action guidelines. In view of this, the European Commission "will undertake an examination of technical assistance measures likely to be adopted in the priority sectors" and "the Council and Commission will rapidly examine measures for a possible opening of the European market to North Korean products".

On the diplomatic level, the European Union continues to support the efforts by South Korea in favour of a inter-Korean rapprochement and will continue the talks to "identify field for joint action". It will also strengthen the talks "with different parties that desire to contribute to the establishment of long-lasting peace", and "wants to show its preparedness to associate itself with such initiatives on the basis of a partnership and true transparency".