North Korea sees an opportunity as Mongolia strives to be more influential

North Korean Premier Pak Pong Ju met with Mongolia’s President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj in Pyongyang apparently as part of efforts to take advantage of Mongolia, which aims to bolster its influence in the region.

“Mongolia will cooperate with every country, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), for peace and stability in Northeast Asia,” Elbegdorj said.

He is the first foreign head of state to visit North Korea since Kim Jong Un assumed power last year.

North Korea is keen to strengthen its ties with Mongolia and utilize its influence on political matters in Northeast Asia.

Elbegdorj was met on his arrival Oct. 28 by the president of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Yong Nam. “We will make utmost efforts to develop relations (with Mongolia),” Kim Yong Nam told the visiting Mongolian head of state.

There is no word yet on whether Elbegdorj will meet with Kim Jong Un, the first secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party.

His visit ends Oct. 31.

In a speech at a banquet held in the Mansudae National Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on Oct 28, Elbegdorj made a point of saying that Mongolia intends to play a greater political role in Northeast Asia.

Relations between North Korea and Mongolia soured after South Korea and Mongolia established diplomatic ties in 1990. In 2002, however, Pyongyang and Ulan Bator signed a protocol seeking greater friendship and cooperation.

Since then, the two countries have had exchanges at various levels, which included a visit by Kim Yong Nam to Mongolia.

With regard to six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program, China is urging a return to the negotiations. However, a wide gap exists between U.S. and South Korean demands and those made by North Korea.

Washington and Seoul have said they will only agree to resume talks if North Korea moves ahead on the issue of denuclearization. For its part, North Korea insists there be no preconditions for returning to the talks.

Japanese diplomats are also closely watching Elbegdorj’s visit because Mongolia has shown a willingness to assist Japan in resolving the thorny abduction issue.

“Mongolia is interested in serving as an intermediary between Japan and North Korea,” said a source with good knowledge about North Korea. “We think there is a good chance that Elbegdorj will raise the abduction issue during his visit.”

In September, Elbegdorj and his prime minister, Norovyn Altankhuyag, made separate visits to Japan.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted Elbegdorj at his private residence.

Altankhuyag also visited China last week. According to diplomatic sources in Beijing, Mongolia has urged China, which chairs the six-party talks, to make Mongolia a partner in the process.

“Those visits reflected the president’s strong desire for Mongolia to have a stronger presence in the region,” said a diplomatic source in Beijing.

Diplomats suggested that Elbegdorj might have gone to North Korea partially to brief the leadership on the proposal made to China.

Mongolia’s warm relationship with North Korea was also reflected earlier this month when a Mongolian company submitted the highest bid in an auction of land in central Tokyo that housed the headquarters buildings of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).

The bid triggered speculation that Mongolia is keen to exert more influence in affairs involving Japan and North Korea.

(This article was written by Akihiko Kaise in Seoul and Koichi Furuya in Beijing.)
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN Any source