NKorean minister in Myanmar to restore ties

YANGON, Apr 25 (Reuters) North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong-il arrived in army-ruled Myanmar today to restore diplomatic ties severed 24 years ago after Pyongyang agents blew up a visiting South Korean government delegation.

An airport official and Asian diplomat in Yangon said Kim arrived on a flight from Singapore.

He was scheduled to hold talks with Myanmar counterpart Kyaw Thu to finalise restoration of the links, diplomatic sources said.

More than 20 people, including four visiting South Korean ministers, were killed when North Korean agents said to have direct links to current leader Kim Jong-il blew up a major Yangon landmark in 1983.

As expected for a meeting involving two of the most secretive nations on earth, neither side has made any statements, causing analysts to come up with various reasons for the reconciliation.

Myanmar exile groups, who are vehemently opposed to the military junta in charge of the former Burma, have suggested Yangon has buried the hatchet because it wants to get its hands on North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile technology.

Other analysts dismiss this as rubbish, and say the explanation could be as innocent as two left-leaning Asian countries wanting to have a proper relationship.

One diplomat, who did not want to be named, said Kim was due to visit Myanmar's new administrative capital, Nay Pyi Taw, and ''a beach resort'' before leaving on Saturday.

REUTERS ABM VV1551