Europe discovers North Korea

摘要

In another contact with the real world, North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, received a delegation from the European Union on May 2nd. It got the sort of old-fashioned welcome to the capital, Pyongyang, that other communist states always used to put on. Hundreds of women dressed in national costume and waving pink plastic flowers chanted the words "Sincere Welcome". Goose-stepping soldiers reminded the delegation that even in poor North Korea the army is well looked after. Then the Europeans were wined and dined. Mr Kim pleased his visitors with a pledge to maintain his moratorium on missile-testing until 2003.