Poland Reopens Embassy in North Korea, Second After Sweden


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Poland announced on Friday that it will reactivate its embassy in Pyongyang, joining Sweden as the second Western nation to resume diplomatic operations following their suspension due to North Korea’s stringent COVID-19 restrictions.

This diplomatic move by Poland, a NATO member, establishes another communication channel between NATO countries and North Korea, which maintains close ties with Russia and has been providing military support in Ukraine. The development follows Sweden’s recent embassy reopening in September, shortly after joining NATO.

Polish diplomatic officials visited Pyongyang this week to facilitate the embassy’s restoration. The Foreign Ministry explained that their mission encompassed both technical and political aspects, with the primary objective of reestablishing permanent diplomatic representation.

The embassy’s initial closure occurred in December 2020, when North Korean authorities implemented complete border restrictions due to COVID-19, making diplomatic operations unfeasible. Sweden, which joined NATO in March, has been representing other nations’ interests through its recently reopened mission in Pyongyang.

The timing of these diplomatic restorations holds particular significance given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. NATO and EU members, including Poland and Sweden, are intensifying efforts to engage China in persuading North Korea to cease its military support to Russia.

Intelligence reports from the U.S., South Korea, and Ukraine indicate that approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk border region to support military operations against Ukrainian forces. NATO officials have noted that Russia is reciprocating by sharing missile technology with North Korea.

 

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