Spain and North Korea have had diplomatic relations since 2001. So why is the North only appointing its first ambassador to Spain now?

The new DPRK Ambassador to Spain, Kim Hyok Chol, presented his credentials to King Juan Carlos – along with 16 other countries’ new ambassadors to Spain – on Wednesday at Zarzuela Palace, Spanish and international media reported. Kim will be the first North Korean ambassador to reside in Spain full-time at a DPRK embassy.

Though North Korea and Spain’s relations have included the exchange of ambassadors since they began more than a dozen years ago, North Korea