Embassy of the United Kingdom, Pyongyang

Last updated

The British Embassy Pyongyang
Embassy of Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom, France in Pyongyang, DPRK - 2011.jpg
The building that houses the British, German, French and Swedish missions to North Korea
Embassy of the United Kingdom, Pyongyang
Location Flag of North Korea.svg Pyongyang, North Korea
AddressMunsu-dong Compound
Coordinates 39°01′21″N125°47′38″E / 39.0225°N 125.7940°E / 39.0225; 125.7940
Ambassador David Ellis [1]

The British Embassy Pyongyang is the British sovereign's diplomatic mission in Pyongyang, North Korea, that represents the United Kingdom's interests. [2] It is located in the Munsu-dong diplomatic compound (in the Taedonggang District), where most of the diplomatic missions to North Korea are located, with the exception of the Russian and Chinese missions. [3]

Contents

It shares a building with the German, French and Swedish missions to North Korea, in what was originally the East German mission and was transferred to the government of the present Germany upon German reunification. The former East German embassy was established at a time when North Korea relied almost exclusively on the Comecon countries, along with China, for external trade. [3]

History

The UK and North Korea had no formal diplomatic relations until 12 December 2000, when diplomatic missions in London and Pyongyang were established. James Hoare was chargé d'affaires from 2001–02 until a permanent ambassador was appointed by the UK Government: [3] [4] the first full-time accredited British diplomat was James Warren. The embassy itself opened in July 2001 and the first ambassador, David Slinn, arrived in North Korea in November 2002. [2] [3]

Incidents

On 5 April 2013 the North Korean government advised the British Embassy, and all other missions, that the safety of their missions could not be assured past 10 April 2013. This was part of the North Korean government's response to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2094 and deterioration of relations between North Korea and the United States. [5]

In May 2020 the embassy was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] Some other countries had their diplomats evacuated earlier in March. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of the United Kingdom</span>

The diplomatic foreign relations of the United Kingdom are conducted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, headed by the Foreign Secretary. The prime minister and numerous other agencies play a role in setting policy, and many institutions and businesses have a voice and a role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heads of Diplomatic Missions of the United Kingdom</span>

The Heads of British diplomatic missions are persons appointed as senior diplomats to individual nations, or international organisations. They are usually appointed as ambassadors, except in member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations where a high commissioner is appointed. The head of mission to an international organisation is usually a permanent representative. For some nations a consul or consul-general is appointed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambassadors of the United States</span> United States diplomatic position

Ambassadors of the United States are persons nominated by the president to serve as the country's diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as ambassadors-at-large. Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, their appointment must be confirmed by the United States Senate; while an ambassador may be appointed during a recess, they can serve only until the end of the next session of Congress, unless subsequently confirmed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protecting power</span> Country that represents a second country to a third country

A protecting power is a country that represents another sovereign state in a country where it lacks its own diplomatic representation. It is common for protecting powers to be appointed when two countries break off diplomatic relations with each other. The protecting power is responsible for looking after the protected power's diplomatic property and citizens in the hosting state. If diplomatic relations were broken by the outbreak of war, the protecting power will also inquire into the welfare of prisoners of war and look after the interests of civilians in enemy-occupied territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italy–United Kingdom relations</span> Bilateral relations

The bilateral relations between the Italian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are warm and exceptionally strong. This relationship is also known as Anglo–Italian relations.

James Edward Hoare is a British academic and historian specialising in Korean and Chinese studies, and a career diplomat in the British Foreign Office.

Sir Robert Henry Clive was a British diplomat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran</span>

The 2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran was a mob action on 29 November 2011 by a crowd of Iranian protesters who stormed the embassy and another British diplomatic compound in Tehran, Iran, ransacking offices and stealing documents. One small building was set on fire during the incident and several people were injured. The Iranian government publicly condemned the violence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of the United Kingdom, Tehran</span> Diplomatic mission of UK in Iran

The Embassy of the United Kingdom in Tehran is the United Kingdom's diplomatic mission to the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is located at 172 Ferdowsi Avenue in Tehran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of North Korea, London</span>

The Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in London is the diplomatic mission of North Korea to the United Kingdom. The official residence of the Ambassador of North Korea to the United Kingdom, it is located in a detached house at 73 Gunnersbury Avenue on the northern corner junction with Baronsmede, in Ealing, a suburban district of West London. It is notable for being one of the few embassies in London located in a suburban area, away from the central diplomatic areas of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Charlton (diplomat)</span> British former diplomat

Alan Charlton is a British former diplomat who was Ambassador to Brazil from 2008 to 2013. Following retirement from his diplomatic career, he has been active writing books, promoting relations between the United Kingdom and Latin America, lecturing on cruise ships and volunteering with the Samaritans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Korea–United Kingdom relations</span> Bilateral relations

North Korea-United Kingdom Relations are the bilateral relations between North Korea and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of China, Pyongyang</span>

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the diplomatic mission of the People's Republic of China in DPR Korea. The embassy is located in Kinmaul-dong, the Moranbong District of Pyongyang. The embassy currently provides a number of consular services, namely passport and visa related.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of Sweden, Pyongyang</span> Diplomatic mission of Sweden in North Korea

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang is Sweden's diplomatic mission in North Korea, which is located in the country's capital Pyongyang. The Swedish Embassy was one of the first embassies in North Korea, opening in 1975. The ambassador since July 2021 is Andreas Bengtsson. Until 2001, Sweden was the only Western country with uninterrupted diplomatic representation in the city. The Swedish embassy serves as the protecting power for the United States and as consular representation for Australia, Canada, Italy, Latvia, Iceland and Finland.

References

  1. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in December 2021". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 Foreign and Commonwealth Office. "British Embassy Pyongyang". gov.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Hoare, James (2004). "A Brush with History: Opening the British Embassy Pyongyang, 2001–2002". Papers of the British Association for Korean Studies. 9. Archived from the original on 4 November 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  4. 1 2 Hoare, James (11 December 2020). "Twenty Years a-Stagnating—The Lost Opportunity of Britain's Relationship With the DPRK". 38 North . The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  5. Moore, Malcolm (5 April 2013). "North Korea: we can't keep you safe, Pyongyang tells foreign embassies". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  6. "Diplomats flown out of North Korea, missions shut amid coronavirus concern". Reuters. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2021.