North Korea will reportedly continue to form new diplomatic relationships with foreign nations next year just as it did this year.

A government source said Tuesday... in 2001, the communist country will likely establish diplomatic relations with Canada, Germany, Spain and Belgium, all of which are now negotiating with North Korea on the matter.

The source noted... the move seems to follow the North's strengthened omni-directional diplomacy strategy, adding that the Stalinist country will also speed up its efforts to join international agencies like the Asian Development Bank.

Another source said the North is expected to resume relations with Myanmar next year and will probably form diplomatic ties with New Zealand.

Myanmar is the only member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that has no diplomatic relations with the isolated country.