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 United Kingdom |  North Korea |
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North Korea-United Kingdom Relations (Korean : 영국-조선민주주의인민공화국 관계, romanized: yeongguk-joseonminjujueuiinmingonghwaguk gwangye) are the bilateral relations between North Korea and the United Kingdom.
North Korea has an embassy in London and the United Kingdom has an embassy in Pyongyang which opened in 2003 and 2001 respectively after diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 2000.
During the Korean War the two countries were on opposing sides with the UK overseeing the British Commonwealth Forces Korea serving the United Nations (UN). Later during the Cold War the United Kingdom was a strong ally of the United States while North Korea was an ally of the Soviet Union.
The North Korea national football team played in the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. The UK government did not recognise North Korea and feared that its presence would strain relations with South Korea and the United States. FIFA told England's Football Association that the tournament would be moved if any qualified team were to be refused entry. On the suggestion of the British Foreign Office, the playing of national anthems, and meetings between players and state figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, would only take place in two games: the opener and the final. North Korea was not scheduled for the former, and was considered unlikely to reach the latter. A Foreign Office suggestion for flags outside stadiums to be removed after each team's elimination, in the expectation of an early North Korean exit, was vetoed by the Department of Education and Science. The Foreign Office apologised to the South Korean ambassador for the flying of North Korean flags at stadiums. [1] [2]
North Korea's team became the adopted team of Middlesbrough which was where they played their group games during the competition. North Korea's team had a remarkable victory by beating Italy 1–0 at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough and finished above them, thus earning qualification to the next round. Middlesbrough fans went on to support North Korea's team in the next round of the tournament, with many travelling to Liverpool to watch the team play against Portugal. In 2002, members of North Korea team returned to Middlesbrough for an official visit, after the release of a film The Game of Their Lives about the team's visit in 1966. [3]
Following initial progress in North Korea–South Korea relations, North Korea and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations on 12 December 2000, opening resident embassies in London and Pyongyang. The United Kingdom provides English language and human rights training to DPRK officials, urging the North Korean government to allow a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, and it oversees bilateral humanitarian projects in North Korea. [4] [5]
An edited version of the British film Bend It Like Beckham was broadcast on North Korean state television on 26 December 2010. The broadcast was organised by the British embassy and commemorated ten years of relations between the two countries. The British Ambassador to South Korea, Martin Uden, said it was the "first ever Western made film to air on television" in North Korea. [6]
The United Kingdom has been critical of the nuclear program of North Korea. [7]
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 UN Resolution 2094 and deterioration of North Korean relations with South Korea and the United States. [8]
In August 2016, the Deputy Ambassador of North Korea to the United Kingdom, Thae Yong-ho, defected to South Korea with the assistance of British SIS officials. [9]
Georgia's location, nestled between the Black Sea, Russia, and Turkey, renders it strategically important. It is developing as the gateway from the Black Sea to the Caucasus and the larger Caspian region, but also serves as a buffer between Russia and Turkey. Georgia has a long and tumultuous relationship with Russia, but it is reaching out to its other neighbours and looking to the West in search of alternatives and opportunities. It signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union, participates in the Partnership for Peace, and encourages foreign investment. France, Germany, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States all have embassies in Tbilisi. Georgia in 2004-2008 sought to become a member of NATO, but did not succeed in the face of strong Russian opposition.
Historically strained, Myanmar's foreign relations, particularly with Western nations, have improved since 2012. Relations became strained once more in 2017 with the Rohingya genocide and due to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. Myanmar has generally maintained warmer relations with near states and is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
North Korea has diplomatic relations with 160 states. The country's foreign relations have been dominated by its conflict with South Korea and its historical ties to the Soviet Union. Both the government of North Korea and the government of South Korea claim to be the sole legitimate government of the whole of Korea. The de facto end of the Korean War left North Korea in a military confrontation with South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
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.
Iran–North Korea relations are described as being positive by official news agencies of the two countries. Diplomatic relations improved following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the establishment of an Islamic Republic. Iran and North Korea pledge cooperation in educational, scientific, and cultural spheres. Some media reports claim this cooperation extends to nuclear cooperation, though official U.S. government publications and academic studies have disputed this. The United States has been greatly concerned by North Korea's arms deals with Iran, which started during the 1980s with North Korea acting as a third party in arms deals between the Communist bloc and Iran, as well as selling domestically produced weapons to Iran, and North Korea continues selling missiles to Iran. North Korea and Iran are the remaining two members of George W. Bush's "Axis of evil", which has led to many of the concerns regarding Iran–North Korea relations.
North Korea–Russia relations are the bilateral relations between Russia and North Korea. The Soviet Union was the first to recognize North Korea on October 12, 1948, shortly after the proclamation, as the sole legitimate authority in all of Korea. The Soviet Union supported North Korea during the Korean War. North Korea was founded as part of the Communist bloc, and received major Soviet military and political support. The comprehensive personality cult around North Korea's ruling family was heavily influenced by Stalinism. China and the Soviet Union competed for influence in North Korea during the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960s, as North Korea tried to maintain good relations with both countries.
Koryo Tours is an independent Western travel company based in Beijing, specializing in group and independent tourism to North Korea.
Poland–North Korean relations are foreign relations between Poland and North Korea.
India–North Korea relations, also called Indian-North Korean relations or Indo-North Korean relations, are the bilateral relations between India and North Korea. Both countries have growing trade and diplomatic relations. India maintains an embassy in Pyongyang, and North Korea has an embassy in New Delhi.
Germany–North Korea relations are the bilateral relations between Germany and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. During the Cold War, East Germany maintained diplomatic relations only with North Korea, while West Germany maintained diplomatic relations only with South Korea. East Germany ceased to exist upon German reunification, which meant that diplomatic relations no longer existed between Germany and North Korea. The two countries appointed protecting powers to represent their interests in the other country, Sweden being the protecting power for Germany, and China being the protecting power for North Korea.
The British Embassy Pyongyang is the British sovereign's diplomatic mission in Pyongyang, North Korea, that represents the United Kingdom's interests. It is located in the Munsu-dong diplomatic compound, where most of the diplomatic missions to North Korea are located, with the exception of the Russian and Chinese missions.
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.
Indonesia–North Korea relations refers to bilateral relations between Indonesia and North Korea. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1961. Indonesia is one of the very few countries that still tries to maintain cordial relations with North Korea, despite the widespread international sanctions and resulting isolation imposed on North Korea, compounded with the negative reputation of its human rights, nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and Indonesia's publicly more robust engagement and partnership with South Korea.
Cuba–North Korea relations are the bilateral relations between Cuba and North Korea.
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.
North Korea–Spain relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. North Korea operated an embassy in Spain from 2014 to 2023, although the embassy does not engage in consular affairs as there are no North Korean civilians currently residing in Spain. Spain does not have an embassy in North Korea, but its embassy in South Korea operates for matters related to Spanish citizens who intend to travel to North Korea. In addition, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends its registration at the Seoul embassy, given the possibility that relations between the two Koreas, already delicate, may worsen at any time. That is why Spain considers the entire territory of North Korea as a risk zone for Spanish citizens traveling to this country.
North Korea–South Africa relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Africa. North Korea maintains an embassy in Pretoria, while the South African ambassador to China is also accredited to North Korea.
Nigeria maintains an embassy in Pyongyang and North Korea maintains an embassy in Lagos.
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