It has been confirmed that North Korea, which recently closed its diplomatic missions in Africa, has also withdrawn from Spain.
According to the ‘Plan’, a diplomatic document released by the Spanish People’s Communist Party (PCPE) on its website on the 1st, Seo Yoon-seok, interim acting ambassador to the North Korean Embassy in Spain, announced the withdrawal of the North Korean diplomatic mission on the 26th of last month. He then added that from now on, the North Korean Embassy in Italy will be in charge of Spanish-related affairs.
The plan did not include the reasons or circumstances for North Korea’s decision to leave Spain.
North Korea established diplomatic relations with Spain in 2001 and opened a North Korean embassy in Madrid in 2013. The following year, Kim Hyok-chol took office as the first North Korean ambassador.
In September 2017, in protest against North Korea’s sixth nuclear test, Spain designated then North Korean Ambassador Kim Hyok-chol as ‘persona non grata’ (diplomatically avoided person) and ordered him to leave Spain.
In February 2019, members of the anti-North Korea group ‘Free Joseon’ broke into the North Korean Embassy in Spain, which had been operating without a leader due to the expulsion of the ambassador, and stole computers, USBs, and cell phones.
North Korea recently withdrew its diplomatic missions from Africa, including Uganda and Angola. According to Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun, North Korea recently informed China of its intention to close the consulate general in Hong Kong and plans to suspend the operation of about 10 embassies abroad.
In response to this, an official from the Ministry of Unification said in a meeting with reporters the previous day, “It appears that the international community’s strengthening of sanctions against North Korea has caused a setback in foreign currency earning, making it difficult to maintain the embassy, so we are withdrawing.” He added, “It is difficult for North Korea to maintain minimal diplomatic relations with traditional friendly countries.” “It’s just one aspect of the difficult economic situation,” he said.
Hyewon Lee, Donga.com
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.