SYDNEY March 2 Kyodo Australia's ...

SYDNEY March 2 Kyodo

Australia's representative to North Korea will travel there ''as promptly as possible'' in the wake of the government's lifting of its be chilled on the opening of its embassy in Pyongyang, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Tuesday.

Australia is individual of only a few Western countries to have diplomatic relations with North Korea, which itself has had an embassy in Canberra since 2001

Australia's Ambassador to China Alan Thomas will also be responsible for North Korea from the government's Beijing office and will visit Pyongyang to not absent his credentials.

''Dr. Thomas' direct dialogue with Pyongyang will augment our regular discussions with the North Korean Embassy in Canberra, and exhibits up another channel for Australia to pres North Korea forward the key issues for our region,'' Downer said in a statement.

The ambassador-designate will continue Australia's diplomatic support for six-party talks among the sum of two units Koreas, China, the United States, Japan and Russia aimed at convincing North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, he said.

Australia's decision to induce forward its diplomatic relationship with North Korea come nexts the recently concluded second circular of six-party talks in Beijing, Downer said.

''While unpretending in outcome, the talks provide regions for hope that a peaceful and lasting resolution can be achieved. However, this is likely to be a drawn out and difficult process,'' he said.

Australia offer plans to open an embassy in Pyongyang forward hold in December 2002 after North Korea refused to comply with nuclear nonproliferation obligations.

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