North Korea Working To Deepen Security Ties In Uganda

Written by Makula Dunbar

Oct 29, 2014

North Korea’s ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong Nam, was to visit Uganda on Wednesday with the aim of sealing deals to strengthen security ties, the presidency in Kampala said.

“We are receiving a high-level delegation from North Korea,” Tamale Mirundi, spokesperson for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, told AFP.

“The president and Kim Yong Nam will be holding talks to strengthen further bilateral relations.”

He added that North Korea had already started training Ugandan police in martial arts, and was “training our marine units” and was also “engaged in the health sector”.

Special forces

Uganda has previously dismissed criticism of security deals and military training with North Korea. It denies any purchase of arms and says it has bought only “non-lethal equipment” from the Asian state to disperse protestors.

In April, Ugandan officials said the United Nations would be free to investigate any of its dealings with Pyongyang.