Source: Gulf News             Date: 22 June, 2011

Mongolia sees North Korea's ports as the gateway for shipping its mineral resources, taking advantage of "very good relations" between the two countries, Prime Minister S. Batbold said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Beijing last week. "We will keep the channel warm with North Korea," Mr. Batbold said. "We could have further cooperation in the access to the sea and seaports." Landlocked Mongolia needs to secure access to the sea as it pursues mining projects, he said.

"Basically we are trying to engage North Korea, keep them engaged with other countries. We don't want them to be isolated," Mr. Batbold said. "We would like peace, stability and security in our region." Mongolia may also supply North Korea with meat and foodstuffs, Mr. Batbold said. The two countries could cooperate in agriculture because of Mongolia's "vast land", he said.

Mongolia is trying to seek a "balance of interests" in its relations with neighbors such as Russia and China and Western countries, Mr. Batbold said. "This balance has to be kept not by squeezing somebody, but increasing" the opportunities for cooperation, he said.