The French daily Le Monde says that France will open a permanent office in North Korea in September for cultural exchanges between the two nations.

The daily said that the chief of the Asian department at France’s Foreign Ministry will visit Pyongyang for discussions with North Korean officials about the establishment of the office in the capital city. However, the daily clarified that the opening of the office does not signify establishing diplomatic relations with North Korea although it could function as a diplomatic intermediary.

A French presidential envoy agreed with North Korea on the establishment of a French office in a visit to Pyongyang in December 2009. But the opening has been delayed over international concerns about North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and human rights violations.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said that a delegation from the French Foreign Ministry arrived in Pyongyang on Monday.