Indonesian and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) signed cooperation in communications and information technology which is presented in the Agreed Minutes of the first Meeting of Joint Information Commission (JIC) this afternoon (08/5/2012) in Jogjakarta. Secretary General of the Indonesian Communications and Information Ministry Basuki Iskandar (Head of Indonesian Delegation) and Mr. Jong Yong Chol (Head of DPRK Delegation) co-signed the document. The news was delivered by the Director of Information and Media of th Foreign Ministry, PLE Priatna, in a press conference.
This cooperation will be implemented through exchanges of materials (news, videos, photos as well as television programs) and capacity building through exchange of visits between government officials who deal with communications and information as well as between journalists of both countries.
“The first JIC between RI-DPRK serves as a salient forum for realization of the cooperation between both countries. The forum bridges the efforts to disseminate Government to Government, Government to People as well as people to people contact between the two countries,” Priatna added.
In anticipation of President Kim Yong Nam’s visit to Indonesia on 13 May 2012, the DPRK is in the middle of preparing a number of cooperation and partnerships between the two countries. Cooperation in communications and information is one of them.
“This time’s meeting can contribute to promote close bilateral relations between RI and DPRK. This is a great momentum to realize a concrete partnership in information,” said Jong Yong Chol who is also the Deputy Head of the Information Committee of DPRK.
In his opening remark, Secretary General Basuki Yusuf Iskandar extended his appreciation towards and a hope for the two countries to have closer relations in communications and information sector. According to him, the MoU between both countries that was signed in 2009 serves as a strong foundation for technical cooperation which will be later carried out.
“In addition to cooperation between Information Committee of DPRK and Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics, we will also encourage closer partnership through active roles from the news agency, such as TVRI, RRI and Antara News Agency,” said Priatna who attended the meeting.
On a technical level, the meeting agreed on various cooperation programs, such as exchange of materials for TV documentary, radio broadcast program and Plan of Cooperation for transmission of news, photos and audio files between Antara and KCNA. The Head of TVRI Station in Jogjakarta on behalf of TVRI handed over a number of documentary programs that are expected to initiate the cooperation.
The meeting also agreed to organize “TV Documentary Program Production” training in Bali and Jogjakarta in order to build the capacity of journalists and government officials who are engaged in communications and information.
Furthermore, the meeting also addressed the proposal for journalist exchange between the two countries.
The second JIC meeting is scheduled in Pyongyang, DPRK in 2013. (Source: Directorate of East Asia and Pacific Affairs/Directorate of Information and Media/PLE/ASH/PY)