Top Indonesian, North Korean diplomats meet in Pyongyang

ANKARA

Indonesia’s top diplomat met with his North Korea counterpart on Saturday, making Sugiono the first Indonesian foreign minister to visit North Korea since 2013.

Sugiono, who goes by a single name, arrived in the North Korean capital Pyongyang on Friday for a two-day visit to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s ruling party.

"Visited Pyongyang for the first time and had a bilateral meeting with H.E. Choe Son Hui, (North Korean) Foreign Minister,” Sugiono wrote on US social media platform X.

“We discussed efforts to further enhance the friendship of (Indonesia and North Korea) in various fields," he added.

During the talks, the sides signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a consultation mechanism aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation.

During his visit, Sugiono is also set to visit Indonesia’s Embassy, which had closed in 2021 due to COVID-19 and reopened earlier this year, according to state-run news agency Antara.

The last visit to North Korea by an Indonesian foreign minister was by Marty Natalegawa in 2013.