YANGON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Vice Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Yong Il concluded his three-day visit to Yangon Saturday morning after agreeing with Myanmar on the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The restoration of diplomatic ties between Myanmar and the DPRK after more than two decades' break-off came out of the two countries' desire to improve such relations for their common national interests, observers here said.
The agreement on the re-establishment of Myanmar-DPRK ties was reached after discussions were held between Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu and Kim on Thursday, the second day of Kim's visit.
Kyaw Thu told reporters after the signing of the agreement thatthey would notify the United Nations according to procedures abouttheir move and it is up to Pyongyang if it will run an embassy in Myanmar.
According to a joint communique released in Pyongyang, the two countries agreed to re-establish the diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level, expressing their assurances that the re-establishment responds to the national interests of both countries and will consolidate the strengthening of international peace and cooperation.
So far, there has been no Myanmar official media reports about the event and also Kim's three-day journey in the country from the beginning to the end.
However, Kim's successful mission has paved the way for the normalization, improvement and development of the two countries' bilateral ties and cooperation, the observers viewed.
Myanmar and the DPRK broke off diplomatic relations on Nov. 4, 1983 after DPRK agents were charged with masterminding a deadly bomb attack on a visiting South Korean government delegation, led by then president Chun Doo Hwan, earlier on October 9 the same year at the Martyrs' Mausoleum in Yangon underneath the world's famous Shwedagon Pagoda where a respect paying ceremony was about to take place.
The bomb blast killed 17 members of Chun's entourage including four cabinet ministers, injuring 17 others. In the incident, four Myanmar officials also died.
After nearly 24 years, claiming that both sides are desirous of developing friendly relations and bilateral cooperation, based on the principles of respect for each other's sovereignty, non-interference in their internal affairs, and equality and mutual benefit as well as the norms of international law and the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter, Myanmar and the DPRK re-established their diplomatic ties.