S. Korea inks ODA deal with Zambia

SEOUL, June 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea signed a treaty with Zambia on Tuesday to provide the African nation with Official Development Assistance (ODA) to develop its information technology and communication sectors, the South Korean foreign ministry said. Under the deal, South Korea will provide US$41 million in Economic Development Cooperation Funds to Zambia to establish wireless communication systems and integrated information systems, the ministry said. The treaty was signed by South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Zambian counterpart Harry Kalaba, who is visiting Seoul. The two ministers also agreed to sign an investment promotion and protection treaty in the near future and expand cooperation in agriculture, with Zambia requesting to become a member of the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation soon. Kalaba also reaffirmed Zambia's plans to execute the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270, which was recently passed to slap new sanctions on North Korea for its continued development of missile and nuclear programs, the ministry said. (END)