Spurt of N.K. ties with EU eyed

This year is likely to see a rush of European Union members normalizing relations with North Korea.

According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade here Friday, Spain has only to go through the formality of getting approval from its foreign minister for an accord to set up diplomatic ties with North Korea that was signed toward the end of last year. Germany and the Netherlands have affirmed their position for normalization, and Belgium, Luxemburg and Greece also appear to be in favor of opening diplomatic relations with Pyongyang within the year.

France and Ireland are taking a rather cautious attitude out of their dissatisfaction at North Korea's poor human rights record, said Seoul government officials, but they will may follow suit in order to keep pace with the progress of inter-Korean rapprochement and help the cause of establishing peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

Out of 15 member nations of the European Union, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Austria and Portugal established formal relations with North Korea in the 1970s; the United Kingdom and Italy opened diplomatic ties in January, 2000 and in December, 2000, respectively. Negotiations are reportedly under way between North Korea and Canada, New Zealand and several other Western countries to enter into normalized relations.