Photo: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Kim Yong-Il during a signing ceremony at the ministry of Foreign Affair in Phnom Penh.

North Korean Prime Minister Kim Yong Il will visit Laos next week as part of a regional tour of South-East Asia that has already taken him to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, Lao foreign ministry sources said Friday.


Kim, and his entourage of some 30 delegates, will arrive in Vientiane on Sunday and stay in the land-locked communist country until Wednesday, confirmed Lao foreign ministry spokesman Yong Chanhthalousy.


"We are preparing ourselves to offer state hospitality to him like any other prime minister," said Yong, in a telephone interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.


The North Korean premier - who is no relation to the country's supreme leader, Kim Jong Il - is responsible for running North Korea's economy.


In Cambodia since Thursday, Kim has discussed mines and energy with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen who pledged to increase Cambodian private investment in base metal mines in the reclusive communist state.


Kim also signed agreements on shipping and trade with the Cambodian commerce and transport ministers Thursday. He is scheduled to meet with Senate and National Assembly leaders Chea Sim and Heng Samrin Friday.


Former king Norodom Sihanouk will host a gala banquet for the delegation Friday night inside the Royal Palace, according to the schedule, and King Norodom Sihamoni will also receive them for an audience before they fly north to Siem Reap to tour the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex Saturday and fly out Sunday.


Cambodia and North Korea have maintained cordial diplomatic relations and Sihanouk makes frequent trips to the reclusive communist state. His bodyguard unit is made up of some of North Korea's finest agents - a lifetime gift from the North Korean government. dpa