North Korea honors Alatas with award

North Korea honors Alatas with award

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas yesterday
received the Order of Friendship First Class award from North
Korea for his efforts toward the reunification of the two Koreas.

Former Indonesian ambassador to North Korea Muhamad Muharam
Soemadipradja was awarded the Order of Friendship Second Class
honor.

During a ceremony held at the North Korean embassy here, the
Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Han
Bong- ha, said the awards were tokens of appreciation towards the
efforts that both officials had made in ending the dispute on the
Korean peninsula.

"Through their foreign affairs activities, they have supported
our people's cause for national reunification and for the
development of the friendly relations between Korea and
Indonesia," he said.

(In left photo, Alatas (right) is seen conversing with Han
while Soemadipradja looks on).

"I feel grateful and honored to receive this award, although I
don't feel I have done much in encouraging a reunification
between the two Koreas to take place," Alatas told reporters
after the ceremony.

He also said Indonesia's policy on nuclear proliferation was
clear and would remain in place against any form of
proliferation.

He acknowledged that the new round of talks between the United
States and North Korea on the nuclear issue, which has begun in
Geneva, is a major step toward resolving the conflict on the
Korean peninsula.

"We hope the new leader, Kim Il-jung, will continue the
provision to have high-level talks with South Korea," he added.

On bilateral economic relations, Alatas said Indonesia must
await new developments in North Korea before expanding ties. "I
think we have to wait and see what policies will be put down by
the new leader." (pwn)