Indonesia to send envoy to North Korea

Jakarta, July 5: Indonesia will send a special envoy to North Korea today with a message from Jakarta about Pyongyang's test-firing of missiles, a presidential spokesman.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is due to visit North Korea later this month. Indonesia has previously offered to play a role in diplomatic efforts directed at Pyongyang.

''There are two aims. First, to prepare for a visit by the president to North Korea and the second is to send some message from the president related with recent developments,'' spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said by telephone, declining to elaborate on what message would be relayed.

The envoy, former diplomat Nana Sutresna, would leave later today, the spokesman said.

North Korea test-fired at least seven missiles on Wednesday, raising tensions in North Asia and drawing international condemnation.

President Yudhoyono had to move a planned visit to North and South Korea in June to July after a May 27 Java quake killed more than 5,000 people and forced him to manage relief efforts.

Indonesia had relatively close ties with North Korea during the 1950s and 1960s under then-President Sukarno and even under his successor, Suharto.

Reuters