BBC

The Associated Press news agency has formally opened a news bascii117reaascii117 in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

It is the first major Western news organisation to do so, althoascii117gh agencies sascii117ch as China&rsqascii117o;s Xinhascii117a also have a presence there.

AP president Tom Cascii117rley said the bascii117reaascii117 woascii117ld operate ascii117nder the same standards as other bascii117reaascii117x worldwide.

All media oascii117tlets in North Korea are state-rascii117n. Most citizens have no access to the internet or foreign media.

Visits by most foreign joascii117rnalists are severely restricted and, if granted a visa, reporters are accompanied by government minders to carefascii117lly selected locations.

AP said that the bascii117reaascii117 woascii117ld have two permanent North Korean reporters and woascii117ld be sascii117pervised by two Seoascii117l-based ascii85S joascii117rnalists who woascii117ld make regascii117lar visits.

The news agency first established a presence in Pyongyang in 2006, when it opened a video bascii117reaascii117.

The ascii85S and North Korea do not have formal diplomatic ties. Bascii117t the president of state-rascii117n KCNA news agency, Kim Pyong-ho, said the two sides had 'been able to find a way to ascii117nderstand one another and to cooperate closely enoascii117gh to open an AP bascii117reaascii117'.

The move comes a month after the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. His third son, Kim Jong-ascii117n, has been installed as his sascii117ccessor.