SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has officially announced its decision to shut down some of its diplomatic missions overseas, causing speculation that the move is a result of the country’s economic difficulties due to ongoing international sanctions, according to South Korean authorities.
Prior to this announcement, the South Korean government revealed that North Korea was planning to close its embassies in Uganda, Angola, Spain, and a consulate in Hong Kong. The reason cited for these closures was the severe impact of sanctions on the nation’s ability to engage in illicit activities abroad to generate funds for operational expenses.
South Korean government data shows that while North Korea has diplomatic relations with over 150 countries, it operates only around 50 diplomatic posts abroad.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry, in a statement released on Friday, stated that it is either closing existing diplomatic missions or establishing new ones based on changes in the international environment and the country’s external policy, without providing further details.
South Korean officials have not yet confirmed if North Korea is indeed opening new diplomatic missions abroad.
An unnamed spokesperson for the North Korean ministry, in a statement on their website, mentioned that it is common for sovereign states to relocate their diplomatic forces to serve national interests. The spokesperson added that North Korea will continue to take necessary diplomatic measures to maintain long-term external relations, but did not provide specific information.
North Korean embassies and diplomatic missions have previously been linked to smuggling and other illicit activities aimed at generating foreign currency for their operating costs and remittances to the country.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry stated on Tuesday that the closures were due to difficulties in earning foreign currency as a result of the international sanctions imposed in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry has warned that North Korea may shut down additional diplomatic missions in the future.
North Korean state media reported on Monday that its ambassadors to Angola and Uganda made “farewell” visits to the leaders of those countries the previous week. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, expressed support on Wednesday for North Korea’s decision to close its consulate general in Hong Kong.
In recent years, North Korea’s fragile economy has been severely impacted by pandemic-related restrictions, sanctions, and its own mismanagement. However, monitoring groups have not observed any signs of a humanitarian crisis or social unrest that could pose a threat to the leadership of Kim Jong Un.
