DPRK's Kim Yong-il Goes Shopping in Vietnam
Could this be a portent, or a godsend: the DPRK following its bigger cousin's lead in Southeast Asia?
Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung formally welcomed Premier Kim Yong-il before senior officials of the two communist-run countries signed memorandums of understanding to share agriculture technology and promote cultural exchanges.
«We are convinced that our current visit will bear out good results,» said a statement by the North Korean delegation, which includes several cabinet ministers.
Kim, who is in charge of economic policy, arrived in Hanoi on Friday and will visit a coal mine, a port, an agricultural institute and an industrial zone until Tuesday before going to Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos.
(...)
Vietnam, opening its economy and the newest World Trade Organisation member, says it has done almost no trade with North Korea since 1996.
In contrast, Vietnam's business ties with South Korea are booming. South Korea is the biggest investor in Vietnam and two-way trade is about $4 billion.
Is Kim Yong-il the face of the new DPRK? Cambodia and Laos are entirely forgettable, but Malaysia could make a serious dent in Pyongyang's isolation.
One question, though: that Vietnamese rice might be fairly exotic to North Korean palates. How will Pyongyang spin that?
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