North Korea welcomed the launch of Afghanistan's provisional government Wednesday, a foreign ministry spokesperson said in an interview with state-run Korean Central News Agency, reported the Korea Central Broadcasting Station Thursday.

The spokesperson said that the establishment of new government will initiate stabilization and restoration of the war-ravaged country, and Pyongyang hopes the interim authority will achieve national prosperity and reconciliation as well as contribute in regional peace.

(Kim In-gu, ginko@chosun.com )