Menu
31/08/2004
North Korea to receive UK's first Ministerial visitor
North Korea's nuclear programme and their human rights record will top the agenda when Bill Rammell visits the country next month in the first-ever trip by a British minister to the communist nation.
High-level discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun, and other senior figures, are planned. The Head of the Human Rights Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Jon Benjamin, will also join Mr Rammell on the visit delegation.
Speaking ahead of the visit to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Foreign Minister said that the time was right for genuine engagement.
"The UK genuinely wants to engage with North Korea. I believe the time is right for a British Minister to visit, as the North Koreans have for the first time agreed that they are willing to discuss with us the human rights situation in North Korea," Mr Rammell.
The Minister pledged to convey the UK's "deep concern" over the nuclear programme and will urge North Korea to remain "committed to the agreed objectives of the talks process – namely the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula".
"I will also convey the UK's concern at the dreadful reports that we continue to hear about the human rights situation in the DPRK. I want to get beyond the automatic denials," he said.
"I will urge the North Korean authorities to comply with the resolutions of the UN Commission on Human Rights."
The UK established diplomatic relations with North Korea in December 2000 and opened an Embassy in Pyongyang in July 2001 with a Charge d'Affaires. The first British Ambassador to DPRK, David Slinn, arrived in Pyongyang in November 2002.
The North Koreans opened an Embassy in London in Autumn 2002, and its ambassador arrived in September 2003.
(gmcg)
High-level discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun, and other senior figures, are planned. The Head of the Human Rights Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Jon Benjamin, will also join Mr Rammell on the visit delegation.
Speaking ahead of the visit to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Foreign Minister said that the time was right for genuine engagement.
"The UK genuinely wants to engage with North Korea. I believe the time is right for a British Minister to visit, as the North Koreans have for the first time agreed that they are willing to discuss with us the human rights situation in North Korea," Mr Rammell.
The Minister pledged to convey the UK's "deep concern" over the nuclear programme and will urge North Korea to remain "committed to the agreed objectives of the talks process – namely the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula".
"I will also convey the UK's concern at the dreadful reports that we continue to hear about the human rights situation in the DPRK. I want to get beyond the automatic denials," he said.
"I will urge the North Korean authorities to comply with the resolutions of the UN Commission on Human Rights."
The UK established diplomatic relations with North Korea in December 2000 and opened an Embassy in Pyongyang in July 2001 with a Charge d'Affaires. The first British Ambassador to DPRK, David Slinn, arrived in Pyongyang in November 2002.
The North Koreans opened an Embassy in London in Autumn 2002, and its ambassador arrived in September 2003.
(gmcg)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 April 2004
At least 150 killed in North Korea rail blast
At least 150 people were killed and around 1,000 injured in yesterday's railway disaster in North Korea, according to Reuters. The cause of the explosion, which ripped through Ryongchon railway station in the north of the country, is thought to have been accidental.
At least 150 killed in North Korea rail blast
At least 150 people were killed and around 1,000 injured in yesterday's railway disaster in North Korea, according to Reuters. The cause of the explosion, which ripped through Ryongchon railway station in the north of the country, is thought to have been accidental.
24 March 2005
Ethiopian army branded ‘murderers and rapists’
The Ethiopian military has committed widespread murder, rape and torture against the Anuak population since December 2003, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released today.
Ethiopian army branded ‘murderers and rapists’
The Ethiopian military has committed widespread murder, rape and torture against the Anuak population since December 2003, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released today.
19 September 2003
Government publishes annual report on human rights
The government's response to human rights challenges around the world over the last year has published in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Report on Human Rights. The human rights situation in Iraq is one of the major elements of the report, and the government has outlined two strands to its human rights policy in Iraq.
Government publishes annual report on human rights
The government's response to human rights challenges around the world over the last year has published in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Report on Human Rights. The human rights situation in Iraq is one of the major elements of the report, and the government has outlined two strands to its human rights policy in Iraq.
16 September 2010
NI Bill Of Rights Wins UK Backing
As the Stormont Justice Minister David Ford vowed to reshape the region's justice system to fit the needs of the people of Northern Ireland, human rights commissions across the UK have backed a proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
NI Bill Of Rights Wins UK Backing
As the Stormont Justice Minister David Ford vowed to reshape the region's justice system to fit the needs of the people of Northern Ireland, human rights commissions across the UK have backed a proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
26 March 2015
Armed Standoff Ends In Arrest
An armed standoff in the village of Cynwyd, North Wales, has ended with the arrest of a man. North West Police called armed officers and negotiators to the village at 21:45 on Wednesday after a man aged in his 20s had barricaded himself in a house and threatened police with a firearm.
Armed Standoff Ends In Arrest
An armed standoff in the village of Cynwyd, North Wales, has ended with the arrest of a man. North West Police called armed officers and negotiators to the village at 21:45 on Wednesday after a man aged in his 20s had barricaded himself in a house and threatened police with a firearm.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
