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Jilin Province on Sept. 1. (by Kim Oi-hyun

Even as North Korea has been placed under tougher sanctions by the international community because of its repeated nuclear weapon and missile tests, the North declared that it is willing to expand and develop amicable relations with “friendly countries.”

“The peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia today are firmly guaranteed by North Korea’s greatly increased strategic position, and this is opening up a broader path that can further strengthen economic ties and mutual cooperation between the countries of Northeast Asia. We will further expand and develop amicable cooperative relations with various countries in Northeast Asia and the world that respect our autonomy and treat us as friends,” Pyongyang's Vice Minister of External Economic Affairs Ku Bon-tae said during a speech at the China-Northeast Asia Expo, which was held in Changchun, in China’s Jilin Province, on Sept. 1.

“We are confident that if various countries and regions in the world create development strategies that are suited to their circumstances and establish special economic zones of various kinds, and thus continue strengthening economic exchange and cooperation according to the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, and reciprocity, they will be able to achieve joint economic development and prosperity,” Ku said.

“We have established over 20 special economic development zones around the country and created legal and investment environments for these, and we continue to update these,” Ku said, mentioning special economic zones in Rason, Hwanggumpyong and Wihwa, where investment and development have been at a virtual standstill because of international sanctions against the North.

During the keynote address at the same event, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang reiterated China’s policy for the Korean Peninsula, which is based on the three principles of denuclearization, peace and stability, and resolving problems through dialogue and negotiations. When Ku was asked while leaving the opening ceremony about why the North had participated in the expo, his only remark was that they had come because they were invited.

A Chinese visitor buys herbal medicine from a North Korean vendor at the China-Northeast Asia Expo in Changchun

The expo, which is held every two years and will continue until Sept. 5, is co-sponsored by China’s Commerce Ministry, China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the metropolitan government of Changchun. Companies from North and South Korea, China, Russia and Japan were invited to attend the expo. Thirty-three North Korean companies participated in this year’s expo, including the Taesongsan Trading Company, Mannyon Pharmaceutical Joint-Venture Company and the Yongbong Tobacco Company with North Korean products such as ginseng, cosmetics, medicine, stamps, cigarettes and ornamental stones on sale at the expo’s North Korean pavilion.

By Kim Oi-hyun, Beijing correspondent

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