North Korea has pledged to maintain a moratorium on missile-testing for two more years and to have a second summit meeting with South Korea to discuss reconciliation.
The promises were made yesterday by the reclusive North Korean leader, Mr Kim Jung-il, during five hours of talks with a high-powered EU team headed by the Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Goran Persson.
Mr Persson told a press conference that Mr Kim also promised to open up dialogue on human rights with the EU.
A member of the delegation, the EU External Relations Commissioner, Mr Chris Patten, has given a strong hint that Ireland is on the verge of giving a commitment to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea. Ireland and France are the only EU member-states which have not established or declared their intention to establish ties.
Mr Patten told The Irish Times he understood Ireland was "very near" to deciding in principle to establish diplomatic relations.
He said he would be discussing the matter with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, when they meet at an EU meeting this week.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed in Dublin that it was "currently" agreeing dates to start discussions with North Korean representatives about establishing diplomatic relations.
"These discussions will, of course, cover all issues of concern to the Government including human rights, disarmament and NGO access with the aim of providing humanitarian aid," a spokeswoman said.
She said no time-frame had been agreed for the talks.
Regarding North Korea's commitment to a second summit with President Kim Daejung of South Korea, Mr Persson said it would take place once President Bush had completed his policy review on North Korea.
He stressed that the review did not automatically mean a US rejection of North Korea. "Remember it is a review only," he added. The first summit between the two Koreas was held in Pyongyang last June after which a joint declaration was signed by both leaders.
The delegation flew to Seoul last night for talks with Mr Kim Dae-jung, who welcomed the support of the EU in the Korean peace process.
He told a dinner in honour of the EU delegation that "peace, reconciliation and co-operation" on the peninsula were a long-cherished wish of the Korean people.
Mr Persson said Mr Kim Jong-il was firmly committed to the joint declaration agreed after last year's summit.
During yesterday's press conference Mr Persson said he had been asked to carry a message from Mr Kim Jong-il to Mr Kim Dae-jung, but he declined to reveal details.
On the controversial question of missile testing, the North Korean leader has promised a moratorium to last until 2003 during which time "they would wait and see", according to Mr Persson. North Korea saw the moratorium as a gesture towards the US.
In 1998 North Korea angered the US when it test-fired a missile into the Pacific. While engaged in talks with the United States on improving ties, it agreed in September 1999 to suspend testing and export of its long-range missiles.
Mr Persson stressed that EU-North Korean dialogue "must not be seen as something that can replace the American dialogue. Both are needed".
Mr Patten revealed that North Korea had accepted an invitation to send representatives to Brussels to discuss beginning a formal human rights dialogue with the EU. He said the EU had also invited North Korea to visit Europe to look at various economic models.
There were three separate sessions of talks with the North Koreans lasting a total of five hours in the 1-1/2 days the EU team was in the country. It was the first time a Western leader had visited the Stalinist state.
The EU team stayed in the Paekhuawon Guest house in Pyongyang. Discussions began on Wednesday night and continued during an EU lunch banquet held for Mr Kim Jung-il yesterday, during which the smiling North Korean leader enjoyed Spanish red wine.
He greeted the EU delegation standing in front of a giant flower arrangement containing a red "Kimjongilia", a bloom bred specially for him.
Aid agencies say up to two million people have died in North Korea since 1995, when a series of natural disasters precipitated famine conditions.
Washington gave a cautious welcome to the North Korean pledge to maintain a moratorium until 2003.