Korea will establish diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands in the South Pacific Ocean by the end of this year, making it the 190th country with which Seoul will have diplomatic ties, officials said Tuesday.
The South Korean Cabinet endorsed a proposal earlier in the day to set up diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands and all domestic procedures will be completed once President Lee Myung-bak signs it, officials said.
The two nations will complete establishing diplomatic ties by the end of this year by adopting a joint statement on bilateral relations, officials said.
The Cook Islands, which is in free association with New Zealand, is composed of 15 small islands and has a population of some 10,000 people, according to data from Seoul's foreign ministry. (Yonhap)
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