§ 21. Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EU, the USA, Japan180W and China with regard to his decision to normalise diplomatic relations with North Korea; and if he will make a statement. [135182]
§ Mr. BattleMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed his decision to respond positively to a North Korean proposal on establishing diplomatic relations with South Korean, US and Japanese counterparts and a number of EU colleagues. Ministers in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Spain have since made similar announcements. The decision acknowledges progress in the dialogue between North and South Korea and between the US and North Korea and reaffirms British support for the engagement policy of South Korean President, Kim Dae-Jung, but it does not imply approval of the North Korean regime. We remain deeply concerned about human rights in North Korea, as well as Pyongyang's policies on weapons of mass destruction, missile proliferation and nuclear issues; and will use formal relations to continue pressing these issues.