Rome - Italy yesterday became the first Group of Seven (G7) nation to open diplomatic relations with communist North Korea, the Italian Foreign Ministry said.
Italian Foreign Minister Mr Lamberto Dini yesterday met North Korea's permanent representative at the Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Mr Kim Hung-rim, to exchange letters which formally establish the ties, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
North Korea already has ties with five EU nations, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Portugal and Sweden.