List of Australian Ambassadors to North Korea

Australian Ambassador to North Korea
Inaugural holder	Stephen FitzGerald (resident in Peking, China)
Formation	1975
Abolished	1976

The Australian Ambassador to North Korea was the Australian Government’s foremost diplomatic representative in North Korea.^[1]

The Department of Foreign Affairs told media in March 1973 that the Australian Government had agreed to have "practical working contact" with North Korea.^[2] In February 1974, the department would not comment on reports that Australia was close to recognising North Korea officially.^[3] Then Australian Foreign Minister Don Willesee announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with North Korea on 31 July 1974.^[4]

The Australian Embassy in Pyongyang was opened on 30 April 1975 by John Watson, Resident Charge. Watson had a staff of about six, with some local employees.^[5] Stephen FitzGerald, who was resident Ambassador to China, was accredited Ambassador to North Korea.^[6] He presented his credentials to North Korea's vice president on 30 May 1975.^[7]

The embassy was closed on 8 November 1975 following inter-Governmental problems and Australian staff were withdrawn.^[8] Australia did not withdraw the accreditation of its non-resident Ambassador to North Korea, but did not renew the accreditation when it changed ambassadors to China.^[9] Talks on re-establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries were had in 1979,^[10] and again in 1990,^[11] but to date the relationship has not been restored.

References

1. CA 7167: Australian Embassy, North Korea [Pyongyang], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 26 January 2016
2. "Diplomatic approaches to N. Korea". The Canberra Times. ACT. 22 March 1973. p. 15.
3. "Australia wants to recognise N. Korea". The Canberra Times. ACT. 7 February 1974. p. 3.
4. "An envoy for North Korea". The Canberra Times. ACT. 1 August 1974. p. 7.
5. Cranston, Frank (31 October 1975). "N. Korean mission closed". The Canberra Times. ACT. p. 1.
6. Cranston, Frank (10 August 1977). "North Korea one up in diplomacy". The Canberra Times. ACT. p. 15.
7. "Credentials". The Canberra Times. ACT. 2 June 1975. p. 3.
8. "Six embassy staff". The Canberra Times. ACT. 7 November 1975. p. 1.
9. Cranston, Frank (3 November 1976). "North Korean post not changed". The Canberra Times. ACT. p. 10.
10. "Talks begin on diplomatic ties with N. Korea". The Canberra Times. ACT. 8 August 1979. p. 8.
11. "Secret talks with North Korea on relations", The Canberra Times, ACT, p. 5, 7 November 1990