What are Kim Jong Un’s intentions now? North Korea preparing to close its embassies around the world

North Korea plans to close about a dozen embassies, including those in Spain, Hong Kong and several African countries. The move could close about 25 percent of Pyongyang’s diplomatic missions around the world. The recent closure of North Korea’s diplomatic missions is seen as a reflection of the challenges the reclusive nation faces in generating income from overseas activities due to international sanctions, South Korea’s Unification Ministry noted on Tuesday. did. North Korean state media outlet KCNA said the country’s ambassadors held farewell meetings with Angolan and Ugandan leaders last week, and local media in both African countries reported the closure of the North’s embassies there.

Both Angola and Uganda have maintained friendly relations with North Korea since the 1970s, maintaining military cooperation and providing scarce sources of foreign exchange such as statue construction projects. Chad O’Carroll writes, The embassy closure could set the stage for one of the country’s biggest foreign policy overhauls in decades, including diplomatic engagement, humanitarian work in the isolated country and the ability to generate illicit revenue. Is. More than a dozen missions could potentially be closed due to international sanctions, Pyongyang’s tendency to become isolated globally and the potential weakening of the North Korean economy, a report said.

Seoul’s Unification Ministry said the move reflected the impact of international sanctions aimed at preventing funding for the North’s nuclear and missile programs. The ministry said they appear to be in retreat as their foreign exchange earning business has faltered as the international community tightens sanctions, making it difficult to maintain embassies. This may indicate North Korea’s difficult economic situation, where it is difficult to maintain even minimal diplomatic relations with traditionally friendly countries.