Uganda abandons North Korea, joins hands with South Korea

(Baonghean.vn) - Uganda, one of North Korea's closest allies in Africa, will stop all military cooperation with Pyongyang following a summit between the two countries' presidents, Ugandan government spokesman Shaban Bantariza said on May 30.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye visited and met with the President of Uganda on May 29 (Photo: AP)

The end of the military alliance between Uganda and North Korea is seen as a victory for South Korean President Park Geun-hye in her efforts to disrupt Pyongyang's diplomatic and financial networks in pursuit of its nuclear weapons program.

Park is on a three-nation tour of Africa and met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on May 29. The two leaders discussed economic growth and other cooperation, according to a South Korean government spokesman.

Uganda's military alliance with North Korea dates back to the early 1970s, when dictator Idi Amin signed an agreement with Pyongyang to train and arm Uganda's armed forces. Since then, North Korea has been Uganda's main supplier of weapons and military training.

A 2016 United Nations report said Uganda had asked North Korean military officials to train its police force in late 2015. In addition, a Ugandan government spokesman said last week that Uganda had signed a training contract with the North Korean military and was still importing weapons from North Korea.

After a summit meeting with the South Korean president in Kampala, Uganda said it would comply with UN sanctions and end its military alliance with North Korea, initiating closer ties with South Korea.

"The directive takes immediate effect and ensures Uganda's compliance with UN resolutions on North Korea," Mr. Bantariza affirmed.

In addition to her trip to Africa, in early May 2016, President Park visited Iran, North Korea's traditional ally, and asked that country to cooperate in putting pressure on Pyongyang.

Thanh Hien

(According to the Wall Street Journal)