N.KOREA TAKES PART IN INTERNATIONAL EXPO

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North Korea took part in an international trade expo in Russia and exerted all out efforts to attract foreign investment for the establishment of tourism infrastructure. The North argued that as tourism is not subject to global sanctions, the construction of tourism infrastructure should also be excluded from sanctions. Meanwhile a global investment team including South Korean firms proposed a high speed rail way project with North Korea and held related discussions at the expo.

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​An international trade expo held in Vladivostok, Russia. North Korea has set up a booth introducing Korean ginseng, cosmetics and stamps commemorating this June's Pyongyang-Washington summit at the inter-Korean border.

[Soundbite] (INSTRUCTOR OF N. KOREA'S GENERAL BUREAU ON OVERSEAS EXPOS) : "The meeting itself was a significant event as many Americans also buy the stamps."

Around a dozen countries are taking part in this trade expo. The communist state also sent a delegation tasked with attracting investment and securing export channels. The North is particularly focused on tourism. This is because the sector is not subject to global sanctions and is a legitimate means of earning foreign currency. In fact, North Korea is building major tourist complexes in the Wonsan-Kalma areas as well as Sinuiju. Pyongyang argues sanctions exemption should also be applied to the construction of tourism infrastructure in order to enable foreign investment.

[Soundbite] KANG JONG-HO(N. KOREAN CONSULATE GENERAL, VLADIVOSTOK) : "We need to lay highways and railways to ease inconveniences experienced by tourists. Construction of such infrastructures should be excluded from sanctions."

Also at the expo, a global investment consortium that includes 7 South Korean firms held talks with North Korean representatives regarding rights to developing natural resources and a high speed rail project connecting Kaesong and Sinuiju.

[Soundbite] KIM HAN-SIN(CONSORTIUM REPRESENTATIVE) : "We anticipate there will be an historic event of connecting Northeast Asian rails facilitating a Northeast Asian economic community."

The regime was also keen on publicity, sending Korean Central Television reporters to Russia to cover the expo. As Washington is showing conciliatory gestures on the sanctions issue ahead of resuming working-level talks with Pyongyang, North Korea also appears to be exerting all out efforts to attract foreign investment.