'Sudan has no ties with Pyongyang'

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, left, holds talks with Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on Nov. 1. / Yonhap

By Rachel Lee

With the international community pressuring North Korea over its nuclear threats, Sudan, which once had military ties with Pyongyang, has cut connections, the country’s foreign minister said.

“We do not have any exchanges with North Korea,” Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told The Korea Times. “No embassies and no further plans as well. Sudan supports Seoul and the international community regarding the nuclear issue and we have complied with the United Nations Security Council’s resolution.”

The diplomat also stressed the importance of bilateral relations with Seoul, which will mark their 40th anniversary next year.

“Sudan and Korea have achieved continued cooperation, especially in the business and investment sector,” the minister said.

He said Korean companies have increased market share in Sudan’s car and medical equipment sectors over the past 10 years.

“I believe there is also great potential for Korea to invest in our food and meat industries as well as textiles,” Ghandour said. “Apart from those business exchanges, both sides have actively made efforts to promote a cultural and educational exchange, which was one of the reasons I was here in Seoul.”

The foreign minister was in Korea last month to meet his Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, and officials from the Korea International Cooperation Agency. The two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding as part of efforts to continue high-level dialogue.

This was the first time in 10 years that the Sudanese foreign minister had visited Seoul.