Korea praises Myanmar poll as step toward democracy

Korea on Wednesday hailed the outcome of by-elections in Myanmar as a "significant historical" step forward on the country's path toward democratization.

Myanmar's opposition party led by pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi won a crushing victory in the by-elections on Sunday, dealing a blow to the country's ruling party created by its military leaders.

"The government takes note of the significant historical implications of the election for the democratization of Myanmar," Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae said in a statement.

Korea "expects the government of Myanmar to continue making active efforts toward democratization and national reconciliation," Cho said. (Yonhap)