MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

North Korean Foreign Affairs minister arrives in Brazil

North Korea’s Foreign Affairs minister Pak Ui-Chun

North Korea’s Foreign Affairs minister Pak Ui-Chun arrived Sunday in Brazil to meet with his counterpart Celso Amorim, according to a release from the Brazilian ministry. Brazil and North Korea established formal diplomatic relation in 2001.

North Korea opened its embassy in Brasilia in 2005 and the Brazilian government is in the process of a similar opening in Pyongyang in the coming weeks.

Bilateral trade in 2008 reached 381 million US dollars.

The Brazilian government has condemned North Korea’s nuclear tests and has supported the resumption of talks on Pyongyang nuclear program as well as it promotes the adherence to the Non proliferation of nuclear weapons treaty.

Brazil’ foreign policy has been to maintain diplomatic relations with all governments and in that spirit this week was scheduled to receive the visit of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which was cancelled at last moment. Domestic affairs and his re-election bid postponed president Ahmadinejad visit.

The North Korean top official earlier in the week met in Cuba with President Raúl Castro and with Peruvian president Alan García.

Last Friday the Pyongyang regime threatened to strengthen its dissuasive nuclear program in coincidence with the Asian tour of an envoy from the Barak Obama administration to try and convince North Korea to retake stalled multilateral negotiations for the dismantling of its nuclear program.