European Commission opens diplomatic relations with North Korea
The European Commission has announced it is to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea.
The move will help European efforts to secure reconciliation on the Korean peninsula.
The EU's executive body said it hoped the move would also boost support for "economic reform and easing of the acute food and health problems" in North Korea.
The moves follow improving relations between western Europe and the communist state.
Several EU member nations have already established diplomatic relations and a high-level EU delegation made a groundbreaking visit to to North Korea this month.
