DPA
South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun has asked Cambodia to act as a mediator with North Korea in helping to broker better relations between the two Koreas, a senior Cambodian government official said Monday.
Roh, who met with Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh Monday, said that South Korea appreciated Cambodia's good relations with North Korea and he hoped they could be used to smooth diplomatic relations on the Korean peninsula, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told reporters.
Cambodia maintains diplomatic ties with both Koreas, however, former king Norodom Sihanouk maintains a palace in Pyongyang.
"The South Korean president asked Cambodia to play a more prominent role in the stability of the Korean peninsula," Kanharith told journalists.
"The South Korean president asked Hun Sen to please bring his words to the North Korean leader and tell him that the Republic of Korea has absolutely no intention of menacing the survival of North Korea."
Cambodia has strongly condemned the nuclear tests conducted by North Korea last month, but has also said it respects the sovereignty of that nation.
Hun Sen had agreed to Roh's request and said Cambodia would "do our best to broker stability and peace between North and South," according to Kanharith.
"We will do this in our own Khmer way," Kanharith said, but did not elaborate.
Roh arrived Sunday in Cambodia and is scheduled to leave on Wednesday. It is South Korea's first high- level state visit to Cambodia since both sides restored ties in 1997.
Roh, who met with Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh Monday, said that South Korea appreciated Cambodia's good relations with North Korea and he hoped they could be used to smooth diplomatic relations on the Korean peninsula, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told reporters.
Cambodia maintains diplomatic ties with both Koreas, however, former king Norodom Sihanouk maintains a palace in Pyongyang.
"The South Korean president asked Cambodia to play a more prominent role in the stability of the Korean peninsula," Kanharith told journalists.
"The South Korean president asked Hun Sen to please bring his words to the North Korean leader and tell him that the Republic of Korea has absolutely no intention of menacing the survival of North Korea."
Cambodia has strongly condemned the nuclear tests conducted by North Korea last month, but has also said it respects the sovereignty of that nation.
Hun Sen had agreed to Roh's request and said Cambodia would "do our best to broker stability and peace between North and South," according to Kanharith.
"We will do this in our own Khmer way," Kanharith said, but did not elaborate.
Roh arrived Sunday in Cambodia and is scheduled to leave on Wednesday. It is South Korea's first high- level state visit to Cambodia since both sides restored ties in 1997.
1 comment:
This look like a job for someone in Phnom Penh higher place have to bow down to Ex King to request him for consultation and assistance in dealing with North Korea.
And in Khmer way, it comes to chop chop and make a deal.
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