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Poland reopens embassy in North Korea

22.11.2024 21:30
Poland has reopened its embassy in North Korea, the Polish foreign ministry has announced.
The Polish foreign ministry building in Warsaw.
The Polish foreign ministry building in Warsaw.Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell

A group of ministry officials visited Pyongyang earlier this month to "restore Poland’s permanent diplomatic presence in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea," according to a statement.

For now, the embassy will operate from temporary offices with limited personnel, headed by an interim chargé d’affaires, the Polish foreign ministry said on its website.

It added that the "reconnaissance visit," which took place from November 11 to 16, also assessed "the technical condition of the permanent chancery" to plan necessary renovations in the near future.

The Polish embassy in Pyongyang was evacuated in December 2020 after North Korea closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement said. 

This closure rendered the normal work of Poland's diplomatic mission impossible and led to the suspension of operations, according to the Polish foreign ministry.

Poland and Sweden are the only Western nations with a diplomatic presence in Pyongyang, the Polish foreign ministry also said.

It noted that Poland has maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea since 1948, aiming to play a role in stabilizing the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.

(gs)

Source: gov.pl