Rodong Sinmun Monday says this in a bylined article on the lapse of 10 years since the delegation's visit to the DPRK.

With this visit as an occasion, a new phase was opened in the development of the DPRK-EU relations and affirmative changes were made in the relations between the DPRK and regional countries, the article says, adding:

The normalization and development of relations between the DPRK and the EU is a fruition of the DPRK's independent and peaceful foreign policy and a striking display of its validity and vitality. This greatly contributed to raising higher the international authority and dignity of the DPRK and strengthening the position and role of the EU in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Over the past 10 years there were frequent exchanges of high-level delegations between the DPRK and the EU and its member nations. Assistance to the DPRK has been made by the EU and its member nations and mutual exchange and cooperation are getting brisk in different fields.

The EU is now striving to develop relations with members of the world community while overcoming serious financial and economic crisis by the concerted efforts of its member nations.

The people of the DPRK pay attention to the EU which is strengthening its independence, solving the regional issues by its own efforts and paying interest to the development of the relations with the DPRK, and wish it fresh success in its activities.