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Marty's North Korea visit to improve bilateral relations
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa is visiting North Korea to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and the stability of the region from Oct
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F
oreign Minister Marty Natalegawa is visiting North Korea to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and the stability of the region from Oct.21 to Oct. 23.
During his visit, Marty proposed an Indonesian business mission's visit to North Korea to sound out the possibility of economic partnership between the two countries, following North Korea's plan to open a special economic zone in each of its provinces.
'RI-North Korea trade has grown by more than 45 percent during the last five years,' he said on Wednesday as quoted by Antara news agency.
Apart from economic cooperation, the minister said, both countries saw a promising opportunity to continue developing trade cooperation and create a capacity building partnership.
On President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's instructions, Marty conducted discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun and President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong Nam, on efforts to create a conducive situation in the Korean Peninsula, including on denuclearization and reunification issues.
'Indonesia has received an overall picture of North Korea's thoughts on the prospect of stability in Korean Peninsula,' said Marty.
'I was specifically assigned by President Yudhoyono to convey his letter to North Korea Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, in a meeting with the Presidium's president, Kim Yong Nam,' he went on.
In his letter, Yudhoyono conveyed the important meaning of good relations between the two countries, although there was still ample room to boost partnerships with mutual benefit.
He also highlighted the importance of stability and peace in the region, particularly in the Korean Peninsula, as a pretext to continuing economic development and increasing people's prosperity in Indonesia, North Korea and the region.
'President Yudhoyono has asserted there is a need for a breakthrough in intensifying communication between the two Koreas, including by using non-traditional measures.' (ebf)
