Fed: North Korean diplomats won't be asked to leave

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Fed: North Korean diplomats won't be asked to leave

SYDNEY, Dec 27 AAP - The federal government would not ask North Korean diplomats toleave Australia due to the country's nuclear weapons program, Prime Minister John Howardsaid today.

The federal government has shelved plans to open an embassy in Pyongyang because ofNorth Korea's decision to reactivate nuclear power plants.

"We will not be proceeding at present with the establishment of diplomatic missionand full diplomatic relations in Pyongyang," Mr Howard told reporters in Sydney today.

"It is clearly not appropriate to do that at the present time."

But Prime Minister John Howard said Australia would not be asking the North Koreansto close their Canberra embassy.

"We won't be asking them to leave at this stage," he said.

"That would be an overreaction."

Mr Howard said instead every diplomatic effort must be taken to ensure North Koreacomplied with nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

"We share the concern of the rest of the world community about what is occurring,"

Mr Howard said.

"Every diplomatic effort must be taken in order to persuade the North Koreans on thefoolishness of what they are doing."

AAP klw/nw/sb

KEYWORD: KOREA AUST HOWARD