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S. Korea’s top diplomat to visit Myanmar

South Korea said Thursday its foreign minister would visit Myanmar next week to discuss ways to strengthen relations as the global community rewards the long-isolated state for recent political reform.

During the May 1-2 visit Kim Sung-Hwan will meet his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin and President Thein Sein, the ministry said in a statement.

It will be the first trip to the Southeast Asian country by a South Korean foreign minister since 1985. Kim will visit Thailand from April 30 to May 1 before going on to Myanmar.

In Myanmar the minister will discuss development and economic cooperation and exchange opinions on the current situation in both nations and the Korean Peninsula in general, it said.

“Kim’s trip to Myanmar...will be a good opportunity to set new directions in developing bilateral ties in the face of recent positive developments in Myanmar,” the statement said.

Myanmar has undertaken sweeping democratic and economic reforms since its military rulers handed power to a nominally civilian government last year.

Early this month the opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi won a crushing victory in parliamentary by-elections.