Sweden leads EU mission to Korea

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Senior Swedish officials will visit both North and South Korea to pursue a European-led diplomatic peace initiative between the two regions.

The Swedish fact-finding mission will meet top foreign ministry officials in the North Korean capital Pyongyang on Friday, before flying to Seoul to confer with their South Korean counterparts.

The Swedish delegation, led by Sweden's state secretary for foreign affairs, Hans Dahlgren will fly back to Stockholm to update Prime Minister Goran Persson on their progress.

Sweden, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, has long-standing diplomatic relations with both Korean states.

They are anxious to capitalise on North Korea's recent steps toward opening itself to the outside world.

The initiative could take the form of another summit meeting between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, or a visit by Persson to the Korean peninsula in late April or early May.

Anna Helsen, Persson's press secretary said the idea of a summit, with Sweden acting as intermediary, was raised by South Korea's Nobel Peace Prize winner Kim when he visited Stockholm in December.

Helsen said: "Korea is aiming for a summit (agreement) but as far as we know nothing has been decided."

South Korea's Kim won the Nobel prize for his efforts to improve ties with North Korea, which has stood on the brink of war with his country for half a century.

Relations began to thaw last year after a historic summit between the two leaders and North Korea has been taking steps in recent months to end years of isolation.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Swedish Parliament
Europa
Göran Persson
Nobel Peace Prize

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