Norway Turns Down North Korean Request for Help

Norway has rejected a request to help North Korea with long-term development because of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. The Norwegian Embassy in Korea and Norway’s state-run radio station NRK said a delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen visited North Korea from Saturday to Tuesday to discuss the reclusive country’s nuclear program with its Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun. Pyongyang asked Oslo to help it with long-term development, but the Scandinavian country refused citing the nuclear arms program. Norway has aided North Korea with food and medical supplies. This is the first time a non-EU country refused the North’s request for help. The Norwegian Embassy would not say whether the two nations talked about the North’s boycott of six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.