North Korea Shuts Down Diplomatic Missions in Hong Kong and Libya
The number of diplomatic missions abroad decreased by 2 out of a total of 46… Only 44 places left
A total of 9 locations have been closed so far… Due to increased financial difficulties due to sanctions against North Korea
North Korea has been confirmed to have withdrawn its diplomatic missions abroad in Hong Kong and Libya. The continuous closure of North Korean diplomatic missions abroad is analyzed to be due to financial difficulties.
According to the status of North Korean diplomatic missions abroad posted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on the 30th, as of December last year, there were only 44 North Korean diplomatic missions abroad. Originally there were 46, but two have been reduced. The two reduced diplomatic missions abroad are in Hong Kong and Libya.
Regionally, there are △12 in Asia (Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, India, Indonesia, China, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan, Shenyang) △6 in America (Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, UN) △15 in Europe (Germany, Russia, Romania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, UK, Czech Republic, Poland, Vladivostok, Geneva, France) △5 in the Middle East (Syria, Algeria, Iran, Egypt, Kuwait) △6 in Africa (Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers it ‘complete withdrawal’ when all three of the following conditions are met: official notification of withdrawal by the host country, removal of artificial trees and signboards, and complete departure of all embassy staff. The Hong Kong administration deleted the list of North Korean consulates from its website on the 4th, and Libya also confirmed the final withdrawal through various channels to our government.
Thus, a total of 9 places have been closed following Guinea, Nepal, Bangladesh, Senegal, Spain, Angola, and Uganda since the end of October last year.
The continuous closure of North Korean diplomatic missions abroad is believed to be due to financial difficulties that make it difficult to maintain the offices. North Korean diplomatic missions abroad often self-fund their operating expenses, but it has become difficult to earn illegal foreign currency centered on overseas offices due to the strengthening of international sanctions against North Korea.
The possibility of further closures of North Korean diplomatic missions abroad continues. A foreign ministry official said, “We are continuously monitoring (related to additional closures).”
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