HC Deb 15 February 2001 vol 363 cc261-2W
Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the prospects for the reunification of Korea; [149906]

(2) if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Joint Declaration between North and South Korea. [149907]

Mr. Battle

The UK welcomed the signing by President Kim Dae-Jung and Chairman Kim Jong Il of a joint declaration on reunification, family reunions, economic co-operation and future dialogue when they met in Pyongyang in June last year.

North-south dialogue on implementing the joint declaration has continued to develop since the summit. So far there have been four rounds of ministerial level talks and five rounds of military contacts. Land mine clearance operations are under way and a road and rail link across the demilitarised zone is being rebuilt. Three rounds of talks between the Red Cross societies on both sides have resulted in two rounds of separated family visits with a further round scheduled for the end of February. Commercial links have continued to develop in a number of sectors, including the signature of investment protection and double taxation agreements. Both the ROK and DPRK have continued to express their commitment to further reconciliation and to eventual reunification.

It was in support of these positive developments that the UK established diplomatic relations with the DPRK in December. However, long-term improvement of north-south relations also depends on the eventual resolution of issues such as human rights, weapons of mass destruction, nuclear proliferation, and the development and exports of missiles. Establishing diplomatic relations with the DPRK should provide a more effective channel for pressing UK concerns on these issues.

Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for a reduction of North Korean exports of arms. [150282]

Mr. Wilson

We are concerned by North Korea's past record of exporting arms, especially ballistic missile systems and their related technology. We were encouraged by talks held last year between the DPRK and the US. In the context of those talks, the DPRK said they would be willing to stop exporting missiles if they could be compensated for the loss of foreign earnings.

We have raised our concerns on this issue during our discussions on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and the DPRK. We will continue to use our diplomatic relations with the DPRK to reinforce the need for them to stop destabilising arms exports. We have also drawn the DPRK's attention to the draft international code of conduct against ballistic missile proliferation.

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