North Korea–United Kingdom relations

North Korea–United Kingdom relations

United Kingdom	North Korea

North Korean embassy in London, United Kingdom.

North Korea-United Kingdom Relations 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.

History

During the Korean War the two countries were on opposing sides. 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.

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.^[1][2]

The United Kingdom has been critical of the Nuclear program of North Korea.^[3]

On the 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.^[4]

References

1. British Foreign & Commonwealth Office – North Korea
2. Steven Denny (16 June 2012). "Divergence toward the Far East: A Survey of UK-North Korean Relations". Sino-NK. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
3. Harris, Dominic (12 February 2013). "A violation of UN resolutions': William Hague condemns North Korea nuclear test". The Independent. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
4. Moore, Malcolm (5 Apr 2013). "North Korea: we can't keep you safe, Pyongyang tells foreign embassies". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-04-06.