TEHERAN (AFP) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that he wants to boost diplomatic relations with Asian countries, as North Korea's foreign minister visited Teheran, the government's official website said.

"Iran puts great importance on strengthening its ties with countries in Asia, and Iran and North Korea can use their capabilities to boost their relations," Rouhani said.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong was in Teheran to take part in a meeting of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation.

Iran and North Korea are both subject to heavy international sanctions because of their respective nuclear programmes, and for several years now the two countries have had close ties.

Western military experts believe some of Iran's most advanced rockets are based on North Korean designs.