Poland announced on Friday that it is reactivating its embassy in Pyongyang, becoming the second Western country after Sweden to resume diplomatic operations in North Korea following their suspension during the pandemic.
Poland’s Foreign Ministry stated the visit to North Korea by its representatives this week was both technical and political, with the primary goal of restoring a permanent diplomatic presence in the country.
The Polish embassy was closed in December 2020 when North Korea sealed its borders due to COVID-19 restrictions.
This development establishes another communication channel between NATO members and Pyongyang, a key ally of Russia. Sweden reopened its Pyongyang embassy in September, and both countries are part of broader NATO and EU efforts to address North Korea’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Intelligence assessments from the U.S., South Korea, and Ukraine suggest that North Korea has sent up to 12,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region to bolster Russian efforts against Ukraine.
NATO has also accused Russia of trading missile technology with North Korea in exchange for military support.
The reopening of the Polish embassy reflects growing concerns over North Korea’s military alignment with Russia and efforts to counteract these ties diplomatically.
