North Korean Diplomatic Missions Shut Down Due to Financial Hardships
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North Korea is predicted to potentially close nearly a quarter of its foreign embassies due to financial difficulties following a series of recent embassy withdrawals in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
According to the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant on the 3rd (local time), North Korea has recently withdrawn its embassies and consulates in four places, including Uganda and Angola in Africa, Hong Kong, and Spain.
Western intelligence agencies believe that among the North Korean foreign embassies where the withdrawal was decided, the consulate in Hong Kong played a role in earning foreign currency, procuring goods, and being a contact point with the West.
Experts predict that considering North Korea’s financial difficulties, the recent withdrawal of foreign embassies is just the beginning, and additional measures, such as embassy closures, will follow.
Chad O’Carroll, the founder of the U.S. North Korea specialist media NK News, confirmed, “So far, North Korea has withdrawn embassies from Angola, Uganda, Spain, and Hong Kong,” and added, “However, such closure procedures are expected to affect 10 to 12 more countries in the future.”
He added, “Although the exact locations have not been identified yet, one of the likely candidates is Tanzania in Africa.”
North Korea has announced that it will continue to operate embassies in countries where diplomatic delegations reside in their country.
It is expected that North Korea will continue to operate embassies in countries where it maintains active exchanges, such as Syria, Egypt, and Iran.
Meanwhile, North Korea, which has diplomatic relations with 159 countries, has been found to operate 46 embassies, 3 consulates, and 3 representative offices overseas until recently.
North Korea has been arguing that the recent series of withdrawals of foreign embassies, which started last month, is not due to financial difficulties caused by strengthened sanctions against North Korea, but is a dimension of efficient redistribution of diplomatic capabilities.
By. Ahn Yoo Jin
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