Updated | PN denounces ‘secret’ farewell call by North Korean ambassador, President denies reports

Updated with denial of KCNA content by Office of the President of the Republic.

The Nationalist Party is taking to task Labour leader Joseph Muscat for allegedly "strengthening ties between Labour and North Korea" without publicising a courtesy call by North Korean ambassador Han Tae Song.

A statement by the Korean Central News Agency reported that Muscat expressed deep condolences for the demise of North Korea's dictator Kim Jong Ill, in a meeting he had with Han Tae Song on 3 April.

A party spokesperson said the ambassador was on a farewell courtesy call. A similar unpublicised meeting took place on 5 April with the President of the Republic George Abela, prompting a statement from his office that at no point did he say that he was "pleased with the great achievements made by the DPRK in building a thriving nation under the wise guidance of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un".

"The President simply asked how the economy of the DPRK was faring, a customary question during such meetings, and made no further observations to the reply given by the outgoing DPRK ambassador, H.E. Mr. Han Tae Song.  Neither did President Abela mention the demise of former DPRK general secretary Kim Jong Il," the President's office said.

According to KCNA press statement, Joseph Muscat is paraphrased saying the Koreans will greet the centenary of Kim Il Sung's birth "with shining achievements in economic construction under the wise leadership of the dear respected Kim Jong Un".

According to the press statement, Muscat is reported to have commented that the regime's ambition to launch a satellite was "a legitimate right of sovereign states", and that he would expand the friendly relations between Labour and the Democratic Republic of North Korea.

North Korea's rocket launch has failed on Friday, after flying only for a short time before breaking up and crashing into waters off the Korean peninsula. North Korea says the aim of the launch was to put a satellite into orbit - a move marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung.

A PL spokesperson said Labour expressed "clear opposition to nuclear armaments" while stating that it respected the integrity of sovereign states.

The Nationalist Party's reaction to Muscat's encounter with Han Tae Song has been less than enthusing.

"Like Dom Mintoff before him, Muscat wants to strengthen relations with North Korea's Workers Party. He is rekindling Mintoffianism yet again," a party statement said with reference to Malta's former links with the communist regime.

"As foreign minister, Labour's current international secretary Alex Sceberras Trigona had signed a secret military agreement with North Korea for the provision of arms and ammunitions. Muscat wanted his meeting with North Korea's ambassador to remain a secret, as well, without even issuing one public statement," the PN said.

North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-Un has been appointed "first chairman" of the country's top decision-making body, the National Defence Commission. The move continues the transfer of power to Kim Jong-Un from his father, who died in December.

Two agreements were signed with Malta for "a free offer of military assistance" with North Korea. The first agreement was signed in Valletta on 25 March 1982. A second agreement, signed in July 1982 in Pyongyang, superseded the first, changing only the number of weapons and ammunitions that North Korea agreed to donate to Malta,

The agreement stipulated that North Korea "will, free of charge, provide (Malta) with weapons and ammunitions". Four instructors were sent for three months and were paid according to their military rank equivalent to those of Maltese officers.