Kampala - Uganda will cut defence and security ties with North Korea in compliance with a broad array of the UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang in March for its nuclear test and ballistic missile launch.
The announcement was made by former Foreign Affairs minister, Sam Kutesa, during a press conference at State House in Entebbe on Sunday.
Kutesa’s announcement followed a visit to Uganda by South Korean leader Park Geun-Hye who held talks bilateral on defence and trade with with President Yoweri Museveni.
Following the meeting the two nations later signed a Memorandum of Understanding which spells out areas of cooperation.
“Following the UN sanctions, we are disengaging our relations with North Korea. We do not support proliferation of nuclear weapons,” said Kutesa.
Kutesa was responding to a question on whether the government would continue working with North Korea which has been offering military and police training to Uganda, reported the Daily Monitor.
He said Uganda supports use of nuclear for energy but urged those with nuclear weapons to destroy them.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions were imposed in March following North Korea launching ballistic missiles.
The sanctions prohibit all UN member states from engaging in activities such as trade or transfer of technology that could enable the nation’s missile and nuclear programmes.
“A report by the Royal United Service Institute for Defence and Security Studies, a global security think- tank released last month, listed Uganda among the top five countries that seem not ready to cut military ties with North Korea despite the UN restrictions,” reported the Monitor.
Following the Entebbe meeting the two ministers signed several other Memorandums of Understanding including defence, social welfare, rural development, health, in addition to other issues.
– African News Agency