North Korea closes many embassies

North Korea has closed its embassies in Spain and several African countries, in a series of moves that could see nearly 25% of Pyongyang's representative offices cease operations.

North Korean media reported on October 30 that its ambassadors paid farewell visits to the leaders of Angola and Uganda last week. Angolan and Ugandan media also reported that North Korea had closed its embassies there.

Angola and Uganda established friendly relations with North Korea in the 1970s, maintaining military cooperation and providing foreign currency through projects such as statues.

In a note dated October 26 and published on the website of the Spanish People's Communist Party on November 1, North Korean Charge d'Affaires So Yun-sok said Pyongyang would close its embassy in Madrid, without giving a reason. The North Korean embassy in Italy will take over Spanish affairs.

North Korea established diplomatic relations with Spain in 2001 and opened an embassy in Madrid in 2013.

Outside the North Korean embassy in Madrid, Spain in 2019. Photo: Yonhap

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun also reported that North Korea plans to close its consulate in China's Hong Kong special administrative region, mainly due to economic difficulties.

Media and analysts say North Korea may close more than a dozen embassies, a move that would shut down 25% of Pyongyang's diplomatic missions around the world.

"The embassy closure could set the stage for one of North Korea's biggest foreign policy shifts in decades," with implications for diplomatic relations and humanitarian work in the country, according to Chad O'Carroll, founder of North Korea-focused website NK Pro .

O'Carroll also said last week that more than 10 North Korean embassies could be closed due to the impact of international sanctions.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said on October 31 that North Korea's closure of its diplomatic mission was a sign that Pyongyang was having difficulty earning money abroad due to international sanctions.

"The international community has stepped up sanctions, making it harder to maintain embassies," the South Korean Unification Ministry said. "This could be a sign of North Korea's difficult economic situation."

North Korea has formal relations with 159 countries. As of October, North Korea had 53 diplomatic missions, including 47 embassies, three consulates and three representative offices, according to the South Korean Unification Ministry.

Huyen Le (According to Reuters , Yonhap )

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