Brussels, 04/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - A delegation of senior economic officials from North Korea, led by Foreign Trade Minister Ri Gwang Gun, arrived in Brussels on Monday on the first leg of a two week European study tour which will also include Italy, Sweden and the UK, explained a spokesperson for the European Commission in a press release. Commissioner Chris Patten welcomed the opportunity for dialogue with Pyongyang, noting that "at the Stockholm European Council last spring, we agreed to enhance the role of the EU in supporting peace, security and freedom in North Korea… The EU is already one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), we have begun exploratory talks on human rights, and now I hope we can help North Korea build for a more prosperous future". During their stay in Brussels, the spokesperson expected the delegation would hear presentations from European Commission officials, as well as from representatives of the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. (See EUROPE of 2 March, p.14, on the Commission's strategic document concerning co-operation with North Korea.)