Mongolia, North Korea agree to increase bilateral cooperation

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Mongolia and North Korea on Monday agreed to take practical action in resuming and intensifying bilateral cooperation in various fields.

A statement by the Mongolian Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh hosted talks with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho, who arrived in the capital Ulaanbaatar Sunday on a four-day visit.

“The sides agreed to take practical action measures in resuming and intensifying the collaboration in the education, culture, sport, agriculture, health and humanitarian fields, exchanging visits at all levels and intensifying the constructive cooperation,” the press release said.

Batmunkh expressed confidence that the North Korean official’s visit will make an “important contribution to strengthening and developing the traditionally friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.”

He invited North Korean representatives to attend the 9th International Conference on Northeast Asian Security and the World Women’s Forum later this year.

Both sides affirmed their readiness to continue developing bilateral ties, underlining that they celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, as well as the 35th anniversary of former North Korean President Kim Il Sung’s visit to Mongolia.

Pak also held a separate meeting with his Mongolian counterpart Ganzorig Amartuvshin.