Manila mulls ties with North Korea

Manila mulls ties with North Korea

MANILA (DPA): The Philippines is considering bilateral relations with North Korea but is moving cautiously out of fear of a negative impact on the reconciliatory dialog between Pyongyang and Seoul, a top official said yesterday.

"Upon establishing bilateral relations with Pyongyang, we can be more neutral and objective in our relations with the two Koreas," said Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon. "All the conditions for establishing relations are there."

He said the possibility is likely to be addressed by the incoming administration of President-elect Joseph Estrada, who takes office June 30.

Siazon, who will maintain the same post in Estrada's cabinet that he has in the outgoing administration of President Fidel Ramos, noted the government is proceeding cautiously out of concern such a step might "unnecessarily stop the progress of the four-power talks".