SEOUL: North Korea confirmed on Friday that it is shutting down several embassies to “rearrange its diplomatic capacity efficiently,” a move South Korea interprets as a sign of the North’s struggles under the burden of sanctions.
According to media reports and analysts, North Korea is set to close up to a dozen embassies, including those in Spain, Hong Kong, and various African countries. This could result in the closure of nearly 25% of its missions worldwide.
A spokesperson for North Korea’s foreign ministry confirmed on the ministry’s website that some missions were closing while new ones were being established. “We are carrying out operations to withdraw and establish diplomatic missions in accordance with changing global environments and national foreign policy,” the spokesperson said, describing it as normal activity but without providing specific details.
North Korea, under extensive sanctions due to its nuclear and missile programs, maintains business ties and friendly diplomatic relations with a dwindling number of Cold War-era allies. International sanctions monitors have reported that North Korean missions have sometimes engaged in illicit activities to generate funds for their operations and to send back to Pyongyang.
This week, South Korea’s unification ministry, which handles relations with the North, stated that the closure of some North Korean diplomatic missions indicates the country is struggling to generate income overseas due to international sanctions.
