DATE=5/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / AUSTRALIA
NUMBER=2-262089
BYLINE=ANNE BARKER
DATELINE=CANBERRA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Australia and North Korea are to restore
full diplomatic relations after a 25 year freeze.
Anne Barker reports from Canberra, Australia will
become the second nation this year to normalize
ties with the reclusive nation.
TEXT: Australia and North Korea first established
diplomatic ties in 1974. But the following year
Pyongyang inexplicably expelled Australia's
ambassador and shut its embassy in Canberra.
The two countries reopened negotiations on re-
establishing full relations a year ago, and on
Monday Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer made an announcement in Canberra -
///DOWNER ACT ///
Both Australia and North Korea will soon appoint
non-resident ambassadors. Australia will be
represented by our ambassador in Beijing,
David Irvine. This agreement ends nearly 25 years
of interrupted relations between Australia and
North Korea.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Downer says Australia still has concerns
about North Korea's weapons programs, but is
following the trend led by South Korea and
Western nations towards warmer relations with
Pyongyang. He says Australia believes it can
achieve more through engagement with than through
isolating North Korea.
/// ACT DOWNER ///
It is the view of the Australian government that
despite the concerns we have about North Korea,
nevertheless we think it makes more sense to
engage with them rather than ignore them.
/// END ACT ///
Australia will become the second nation this year to
normalize ties with North Korea -- which has been
actively seeking to break out of its international
isolation. Italy opened diplomatic relations with the
North in January, becoming the sixth European Union
nation to do so.
Australia says it also supports North Korea's
entry into the regional security dialogue -- the
ASEAN Regional Forum. But its new warmth toward
Pyongyang does not come without conditions. Mr.
Downer says if Pyongyang stages another missile
test, as it did two years ago, it may again
become a pariah.
/// ACT DOWNER ///
I think the international community, not just
Australia, would react very negatively if North
Korea were to conduct another long range missile
test, a repeat performance would generate a very
strong reaction.
/// END ACT ///
Australia's Prime Minister John Howard will
travel to South Korea next week, with relations
with the North sure to be high on the agenda.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AB/FC
08-May-2000 05:44 AM EDT (08-May-2000 0944 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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