KOREAN PENINSULA - EUROPEAN UNION LINES OF ACTION TOWARDS NORTH KOREA

The Council approved the EU's lines of action towards North Korea set out below. In accordance with the Council's conclusions of 9 October, the European Troika will travel to Pyongyang on 25 November to continue the political dialogue already initiated with the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.

1. "The future of the Korean peninsula is a major challenge for the European Union:

- the European Union would like to encourage the search for a solution bringing lasting peace between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It supports the process of reconciliation now under way between the two Koreas. With that in mind it welcomed the summit held in Pyonyang on 13 and 14 June 2000. It is prepared, for its part, to consider any initiative which might assist the opening up of North Korea, thus contributing to the stability of the region;

- the activities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the nuclear and ballistic fields have major implications for stability and security in Asia, and also because of its behaviour with regard to the export of sensitive technologies in regions at risk. The European Union expects the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to adopt a responsible attitude and to respond to the concerns expressed by the international community in this field.

2. The European Union and its Member States must therefore adopt consistent lines of action with regard to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Since July 1999, the European Union has followed an approach in its relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which has yielded results encouraging its continuation. By supporting the endeavours made by the Republic of Korea and emphasising that the character of the Union's relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea would go hand in hand with developments in that country's attitude in various fields, the Union has made and will continue to make its contribution to the process of dialogue and rapprochement between the two Koreas.

The development of the European Union's relations and those of its Member States with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will in particular take into account the following factors:

- genuine continuation by Pyongyang of the rapprochement begun with the Republic of Korea, and observance of commitments undertaken with regard to that country. The Union also considers that contacts, dialogues and negotiations begun by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with other interlocutors, which the Union welcomes, should be developed in parallel, without detriment to any of these contacts;

- responsible behaviour with regard to nuclear and ballistic non-proliferation (in particular compliance by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with commitments made under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the signing and ratification of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT), adherence to other non-proliferation arrangements and cessation of its activities - in particular exports - in the field of missiles and missile technology). The European Union hopes that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will accede to the code of conduct which has just been adopted in connection with the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Region) and will observe its provisions;

- developments in the human rights situation, in particular observance of the United Nations Pacts on human rights;

- access by the population to external aid and the possibility for foreign NGOs to work in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under satisfactory conditions. Opening-up by the Korean authorities to economic trade, and other expressions of good will and transparency, such as granting visas to European journalists and proper working facilities for them, are expected in order to reinforce confidence in the structural reforms in progress.

The European Union gives notice of its readiness to initiate a specific dialogue on these questions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In accordance with the conclusions of the General Affairs Council on 9 October 2000, the European Troika will visit Pyongyang on 25 November 2000 in order to continue the political dialogue, in a constructive spirit, with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The European Troika will on that occasion present the main features of the European Union's lines of action towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

3. The policy of the European Union and its Member States will be based on an evaluation of the positions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

At this stage, the implementation of the incentive and accompanying measures decided upon by the General Affairs Council on 9 October 2000 is a key element of the Union's action. New measures may be determined at the appropriate time by the European Union. The Commission will make a study of technical assistance measures which might be adopted in priority areas. The Council and the Commission will rapidly examine possible measures for opening up the European market to North Korean products. Feasibility studies will be carried out in the sectors judged to have priority.

4. The European Union will endeavour to intensify its political consultations with the Republic of Korea, whose efforts towards rapprochement between the two Koreas it supports, in order to identify common areas for action, including in the field of technical assistance and economic cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The Union will also intensify its consultations with the various parties wishing to contribute to the establishment of a lasting peace in the Korean peninsula. In this connection, it stresses the importance of confidence-building measures. It will be attentive to all initiatives which may develop to accompany the dialogue between the two Koreas and the stabilising of the Korean peninsula. It wishes to make clear its readiness to associate itself with such initiatives on a basis of real partnership and transparency.

5. Partners who are interested in establishing diplomatic relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will coordinate among themselves and will inform the Council of the content of their discussions with Pyongyang."