31.   North Korea, which does not recognize rival South Korea as a dialogue partner, since has refused to convene armistice commission meetings and has withdrawn its delegation.

32.   North Korea does not recognize South Korea as its dialogue partner, regarding it as a U.S. puppet.

33.   North Korea calls the South a U.S. puppet and does not recognize it as a dialogue partner.

34.   North Korea, which does not recognize rival South Korea as a dialogue partner, has since refused to convene armistice commission meetings and withdrawn its delegation.

35.   On Wednesday, North Korea said it wanted to deal directly with Washington, shunning the command as a dialogue partner.

36.   Other dialogue partners, who are major donors to the region, include China, Britain, Canada, South Korea, Japan and the European Union.

37.   Previously, additional ARF members came either from Asean or its dialogue partners.

38.   Since Pyongyang does not recognize Seoul as an official dialogue partner, Red Cross officials talked with their North Korean counterparts to return the civilian remains.

39.   The apology was seen as a major concession by North Korea, which does not recognize South Korea as a dialogue partner.

40.   The Association of South East Asian Nations last year agreed to make India a dialogue partner, but did not give India the full membership that it sought.