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Uganda switches sides, dumping North Korea for South

Agence France-Presse

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Uganda switches sides, dumping North Korea for South

AFP

The declaration comes after a meeting between Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-Hye

KAMPALAUganda – Uganda promised to halt military cooperation with old ally North Korea after a visit to Kampala by South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Sunday, May 29.

North Korea, which is under UN sanctions for its defiant efforts to build nuclear weapons, has for many years sent military trainers to Uganda, but Uganda’s foreign minister Sam Kutesa said the relationship would now end.

“We are disengaging the cooperation we have with North Korea as a result of UN sanctions,” Kutesa said.

“Our policy is that we do not support nuclear proliferation.”

The about-turn followed a meeting between Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-Hye.

“President Museveni said Uganda would enforce the UN Security Council resolutions, adding that the government had already been given orders to disengage with North Korea on police and other military engagements,” Uganda’s State House said in a statement late Sunday.

Earlier in the day, a Ugandan government spokesman had denied severing ties with North Korea, calling the reports “propaganda.” However, officials later backtracked.

Uganda has been one of North Korea’s allies in Africa with diplomatic relations since 1963. Beginning in 2007, North Korea has run training programs for Uganda’s army and police.

Museveni, who has led his country since 1986 and was reelected in February for a 5th term, has made 3 visits to North Korea, where he met the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current leader Kim Jong-Un.

In March, the UN Security Council adopted the heaviest sanctions ever imposed on North Korea after it went ahead with its 4th nuclear test on January 6 followed by a rocket launch a month later.

Sunday’s visit to Uganda was Park’s first since taking power in 2013 and is part of an East Africa tour that includes Ethiopia and Kenya. – Rappler.com

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