North Korea's Kim Yong-nam starts three-day visit in Jakarta
North Korea's Kim Yong-nam starts three-day visit in Jakarta
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
North Korean ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam started his
three-days official visit to Indonesia on Wednesday with signs
pointing to strengthening relations between the two Asian
countries.
Greeted by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda
at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport on Wednesday, Kim is slated to
hold talks with President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday.
Hundreds of flag-waving students gathered at the airport
greeted North Korea's second highest official.
The visit of the president of the Presidium of the Supreme
People's Assembly, is part of a tour that includes Libya and
Syria, said the official North's Korean Central News Agency.
Indonesian officials view the visit as a positive response to
Jakarta's role in pushing for peace talks between North Korea and
South Korea.
In her state visit to Pyongyang in March, Megawati delivered a
peace message from Seoul to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
Megawati, whose family's relationship with Kim Jong-il dates
back to 1964, promised Kim Jong-il that she would support peace
efforts in the peninsula.
Kim Young-nam's visit comes amid fresh tension between the two
Koreas after an attack against a South Korean vessel last week
that killed dozens of sailors.
Earlier, Hassan said that Indonesia was committed to
supporting peace efforts.
He underlined that the visit was more likely to bring positive
political impacts to both countries especially in establishing
peace in the region.
"Our trade with North Korea is not much, but we do have good
diplomatic relationships with Pyongyang," Hassan said recently.
Kim was accompanied by Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun and
Foreign Trade Minister Ri Kwang-gun. They are slated to meet
several Indonesian officials during the visit.
On Thursday, Jakarta and Pyongyang are scheduled to sign two
memorandums of understanding to avoid double taxation and
cooperation in science and technology.
Megawati's father, first president Sukarno, was one of
Pyongyang's dear friend and a street in the city was named after
him.
The relations have continued to grow although Sukarno fell
from power in 1966. Both countries are members of the Non-aligned
Movement (NAM).