Germany won’t reopen embassy in North Korea while Ukraine war ongoing



News Germany won’t reopen embassy in North Korea while Ukraine war ongoing Informed source confirms report that DPRK’s support for Russia’s invasion was a key factor in decision Alannah Hill \| Chad O'Carroll March 14, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A rundown tram runs through the streets of Pyongyang \| Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2012) Germany has ruled out reopening its embassy in North Korea while the war in Ukraine continues, an informed source told NK News. The confirmation follows a report by Yonhap News Agency earlier this week that cited a German government official as saying the DPRK’s support for Russia was a key factor in its decision. “Under these circumstances of the ongoing conflict and North Korea involved in Ukraine, we cannot see the possibility to reopen the embassy,” the German official reportedly said on condition of anonymity. “As long as the conflict [in Ukraine] is ongoing, we will not open [the © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Germany won’t reopen embassy in North Korea while Ukraine war ongoing

Informed source confirms report that DPRK’s support for Russia’s invasion was a key factor in decision

Alannah Hill | Chad O'Carroll March 14, 2025

Germany won’t reopen embassy in North Korea while Ukraine war ongoing

A rundown tram runs through the streets of Pyongyang | Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2012)

Germany has ruled out reopening its embassy in North Korea while the war in Ukraine continues, an informed source told NK News.

The confirmation follows a report by Yonhap News Agency earlier this week that cited a German government official as saying the DPRK’s support for Russia was a key factor in its decision.

“Under these circumstances of the ongoing conflict and North Korea involved in Ukraine, we cannot see the possibility to reopen the embassy,” the German official reportedly said on condition of anonymity.

“As long as the conflict [in Ukraine] is ongoing, we will not open [the

About the Authors

Alannah Hill

Alannah Hill works as Deputy Managing Editor at Korea Risk Group. Prior to working at the JoongAng Daily as an editor and KBS as a radio news anchor in Seoul, she worked as a radio reporter at RTHK in Hong Kong and as a reporter at Xinhua news agency in Ireland.

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Chad O'Carroll

Chad O'Carroll is the founder of NK News/NK Pro and related holding company Korea Risk Group. In addition to being the group's CEO, O'Carroll is a frequent writer and commentator about the Koreas, having written about the two nations since 2010. He has visited the DPRK multiple times, worked and lived in Washington, D.C. with a focus on peninsula issues, and lived in the ROK since 2016.

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