The deputy foreign ministers of the two countries, ruled by two of the world’s most repressive regimes, sign the agreement on Thursday. Closer ties are seen by many as an attempt to bypass international sanctions.

Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) – North Korea and Myanmar have re-established official diplomatic relations after 24-year hiatus. As expected visiting North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Yong-Il, and his Burmese counterpart, Kyaw Thu, signed the agreement today in Yangon renewing ties between two of the world’s most repressive regimes. Following the ceremony, neither side made any further comment.

Many analysts believe the two countries have been brought closer together by a common desire to bypass international sanctions.

North Korea belongs to the ‘Axis of Evil’ whilst Myanmar’s ruling military junta is responsible for countless human rights violations of its own citizens.

Diplomatic relations were broken in 1983 when Myanmar (still called Burma at the time) accused North Korea of planting a bomb during a visit by then South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan. The bomb killed 17 South Korean and four Burmese officials.

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