WARSAW - Poland is currently negotiating with North Korea to perform a technical inspection of its diplomatic mission in Pyongyang, as reported by Voice of America on Saturday. This move comes as several European nations consider reopening their embassies in North Korea following a prolonged closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Yonhap News Agency, discussions are ongoing with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to schedule a suitable time for the technical mission in Pyongyang. The spokesperson emphasized Poland's interest in maintaining its longstanding diplomatic presence in North Korea, established well before the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.
The Voice of America also mentioned that the Czech Republic is assessing conditions for the potential reopening of its embassy in Pyongyang, citing a Czech foreign ministry official. This development follows actions by some European countries to send diplomats back to Pyongyang or prepare for such steps, hinting at a collective effort to resume diplomatic operations in the isolated nation.
North Korea has partially reopened its borders since August last year but has so far allowed only China, Russia, Cuba, and Mongolia to restart diplomatic activities in Pyongyang. The report highlighted the recent visit of a German diplomat to North Korea, marking the first known instance of a Western diplomat entering Pyongyang since the early 2020 border closure. Additionally, Sweden's ambassador-designate to North Korea is currently in the country and has met with the Chinese envoy, as stated on the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang's website.
Officials in Seoul speculate that North Korea's decision to admit Western diplomats could be related to South Korea's new diplomatic relations with Cuba, considering the historic alliance between Pyongyang and Havana.