The Czech Republic and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday agreed to revive bilateral economic and political relations, the CTK news agency reported.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Hynek Kmonicek and his visiting DPRK counterpart Choe Su Hon. This is the first visit to the Czech Republic by a DPRK deputy foreign minister since late 1980s.

After the meeting, Kmonicek said that the two countries had agreed to sign contracts on investment guarantee and avoidance of double taxation.

The agreements, seen as one of the preconditions for developing bilateral economic relations, had already been discussed by experts of the two nations, he added.

Kmonicek told reporters that the DPRK side hoped that Czech companies would participate in the reconstruction of railways and power industry in the DPRK.

He also said the two sides also discussed the possibility of Prague and Pyongyang establishing higher-level missions in the other country.

Choe Su Hon today also held talks with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan on bilateral ties.

In 2000, the Czech exports to the DPRK were valued at 103 million crowns (2.78 million U.S. dollars).

During a visit to Seoul earlier this month, Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman expressed disagreement with the current international economic sanctions against DPRK.

(Xinhua 03/26/2001)