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xrough · 04-26-2007, 03:23 AM

Burma, North Korea restore ties

Burma and North Korea, two of the world's most isolated nations, have agreed to restore diplomatic relations after a break of more than 20 years.
The nations' deputy foreign ministers signed the deal in Rangoon.

Burma broke ties in 1983, accusing Pyongyang of a bomb attack when South Korea's president visited Rangoon.

Many Western nations accuse Burma's military junta of widespread rights abuses while North Korea has faced sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Visiting North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Yong-Il, and his Burmese counterpart, Kyaw Thu, signed the agreement on Thursday.

Neither side has made any further comment.

Analysts believe the two countries have been brought closer together by a common desire to bypass international sanctions.

Bomb attack

Burma has been under military rule in various forms for more than four decades.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi won elections with her National League for Democracy in 1990 but was never allowed to govern and has been under house arrest for more than a decade.

Pyongyang has been deemed part of an "axis of evil" by the US and shocked the world with a nuclear weapons test last October.

Burma-North Korea relations were broken after a visit to Rangoon by then South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan.

A bomb attack near the famous Shwedagon pagoda killed 17 South Korean and four Burmese officials but Mr Chun survived. Burma blamed North Korean commandos.

04-26-2007, 03:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
xrough *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-08-07 Location: Manila Posts: 806 Country:	Burma, North Korea restore ties Burma, North Korea restore ties Burma and North Korea, two of the world's most isolated nations, have agreed to restore diplomatic relations after a break of more than 20 years. The nations' deputy foreign ministers signed the deal in Rangoon. Burma broke ties in 1983, accusing Pyongyang of a bomb attack when South Korea's president visited Rangoon. Many Western nations accuse Burma's military junta of widespread rights abuses while North Korea has faced sanctions over its nuclear programme. Visiting North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Yong-Il, and his Burmese counterpart, Kyaw Thu, signed the agreement on Thursday. Neither side has made any further comment. Analysts believe the two countries have been brought closer together by a common desire to bypass international sanctions. Bomb attack Burma has been under military rule in various forms for more than four decades. Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi won elections with her National League for Democracy in 1990 but was never allowed to govern and has been under house arrest for more than a decade. Pyongyang has been deemed part of an "axis of evil" by the US and shocked the world with a nuclear weapons test last October. Burma-North Korea relations were broken after a visit to Rangoon by then South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan. A bomb attack near the famous Shwedagon pagoda killed 17 South Korean and four Burmese officials but Mr Chun survived. Burma blamed North Korean commandos. __________________