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According to Yonhap News,

(SEOUL=Yonhap News) South Korea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo launched a joint committee on Friday to expand collaboration between the world's 11th largest economy and the mineral-rich African country.

Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho and DR Congo's Secretary-General for International Cooperation Raphael Mondonga represented each side at the inaugural gathering held in the ministry here.

During the talks, DR Congo proposed an action plan for building a tighter partnership between the countries, involving sectors like peace, security, agriculture, infrastructure building and information technology.

The DR Congo secretary general also suggested that the country is ready to strengthen military cooperation with South Korea.

"South Korea has achieved remarkable results in various fields like agriculture, health, energy, education and public service in such a short period of time," Mondonga said, also suggesting South Korea can assist the African country's agriculture and mineral resource industries.

"I hope many South Korean investors will visit DR Congo to see the country's bountiful mineral resources and study how to use them," he said. Lee said he expects the joint committee meeting to become a milestone for the two countries in reaffirming mutual interest and joint collaboration efforts.

"South Korea perceives DR Congo as one of the African countries with potential that could spearhead development in the region," the South Korean official said.

He said the latest meeting will delve into detailed collaboration plans after the two countries' foreign ministers initially suggested bilateral cooperation during their talks held on Aug. 2 in Seoul.

South Korea's get-together with DR Congo also comes on the backdrop of rival North Korea's efforts to tighten cooperation with African countries.

North Korea reported earlier this week that Ri Su-yong, vice chairman of the country's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, visited DR Congo to discuss Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

In recent months, senior North Korean officials visited African nations in what appeared to be a bid to break out of a deepening isolation tightening international sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January this year.

pbr@yna.co.kr

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Source Text

Source: Yonhap News (Aug. 19, 2016)