Isabella Carter
North Korea's response to diplomacy has been mixed. The country has diplomatic relations with 160 independent states, but its foreign relations have been dominated by conflict with South Korea and historical ties to the Soviet Union. In the past, North Korea has responded positively to Third World solidarity, and in the 1960s and 1970s, it began reaching out to Third World countries emerging from colonialism. However, in recent years, North Korea has been preoccupied with supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine, and experts suggest diplomacy with the US is unlikely unless this situation changes. North Korea has also been accused of escalating rhetoric and threats in response to Trump's combative rhetoric toward Pyongyang, and the country has conducted nuclear tests and missile launches in response to what it deems hostile actions by the US and its allies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of countries with diplomatic relations | 160 or 164 independent states |
| Countries with diplomatic missions in North Korea | 24 |
| Countries with which North Korea has bilateral relations | State of Palestine, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and the European Union |
| Countries with which North Korea has had diplomatic relations | China, Russia, Japan, Britain, European nations, United States, Vietnam, Algeria, South Korea, Third World countries, capitalist countries |
| Countries with which North Korea has had no diplomatic relations | South Korea (until the late 1960s) |
| Countries with which North Korea has had diplomatic tensions | United States, South Korea |
| Countries with which North Korea has had diplomatic outreach | Venezuela, Singapore, Hanoi, Russia, China |
| Countries with which North Korea has had diplomatic offices | France, Switzerland, Italy |
| Countries with which North Korea has had diplomatic recognition | Communist countries, developing countries |
| Countries with which North Korea has had diplomatic ties | United States, Japan |
| Countries with which North Korea has had diplomatic representation | Sweden |
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What You'll Learn
North Korea's diplomatic relations with 160+ states
North Korea's diplomatic relations with other countries have been marked by several distinct stages since its establishment in 1948. Initially, the country exclusively maintained diplomatic ties with Eastern Bloc nations, the People's Republic of China, and Vietnamese revolutionaries. However, as time passed, North Korea's foreign policy evolved, and it began to engage with a broader range of nations.
During the 1960s and 1970s, North Korea expanded its diplomatic outreach, particularly to Third World countries that were emerging from colonialism. This period also saw North Korea cultivating relations with nations in Africa and Asia, such as the Algerian National Liberation Front in 1958. By the late 1960s, South Korea abandoned its policy of exclusively maintaining ties with countries that recognized it over North Korea, allowing both Koreas to broaden their diplomatic networks.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s marked another shift in North Korea's foreign relations. The country increased its diplomatic engagement with capitalist countries, including the United States, Japan, Britain, and other European nations. This demonstrated North Korea's willingness to adapt its diplomatic strategy in response to changing geopolitical dynamics.
As of 2024, North Korea is believed to have diplomatic relations with approximately 160 independent states. However, not all of these countries have a physical diplomatic presence or an accredited ambassador in North Korea. Many nations, such as Canada, have implemented policies that limit diplomatic engagement with North Korea. Additionally, some countries have formally severed ties, such as Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, which cut relations in response to North Korea's ICBM and thermonuclear tests.
North Korea's diplomatic relations have also been influenced by its conflict with South Korea and its historical ties to the Soviet Union. Despite periods of tension and challenges, North Korea has engaged in diplomacy with South Korea, notably through the Inter-Korean Liaison Office until its demolition by North Korea in 2020. North Korea has also held summits with world leaders such as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping, indicating a willingness to engage in high-level diplomacy.
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Nuclear diplomacy with the US
Nuclear diplomacy between the US and North Korea has been a complex and often fraught process, with both nations frequently engaging in hostile rhetoric and actions. North Korea's nuclear program has long been a source of tension between the two countries, with the US seeking to curb North Korea's nuclear capabilities and North Korea seeking to maintain and expand its nuclear arsenal.
One of the earliest instances of nuclear diplomacy between the two nations occurred in 1994, when the Clinton administration successfully persuaded North Korea to freeze plutonium production at the Yongbyon complex in the Agreed Framework. This agreement, however, broke down in 2002 when the Bush administration accused North Korea of violating the terms of the deal. In response, North Korea withdrew from the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and expelled international inspectors from its nuclear facilities.
In the following years, the US and North Korea engaged in a series of diplomatic talks, known as the Six-Party Talks, which included the US, North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan, and Russia. During these talks, the US demanded complete denuclearization from North Korea before any incentives would be offered, while North Korea sought normalization of relations and a non-aggression pact. Despite some progress, these talks ultimately broke down, and North Korea continued to develop its nuclear program.
In 2018-2019, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a series of high-stakes summits, marking the first-ever meetings between the leaders of the two nations. While these talks initially led to tension-reducing measures, such as the repatriation of US soldiers' remains and a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing by North Korea, they ultimately collapsed due to disagreements over sanctions relief and denuclearization.
In recent years, North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear program and has conducted multiple missile tests, citing US-South Korea joint military exercises as justification. In response, the US has intensified its diplomatic efforts and expanded military exercises with South Korea and Japan. North Korea has denounced these drills as rehearsals for invasion and has threatened to respond with nuclear force if provoked.
Despite the ongoing tensions and challenges, diplomacy has been the most successful method of progress toward denuclearization. Experts suggest that a shift in US policy, addressing the root causes of the security crisis, and building mutual trust are key to achieving longer-lasting agreements between the two nations.
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North Korea's foreign policy stages
North Korea's foreign policy has been marked by several distinct stages since the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948.
In its earliest years, North Korea maintained diplomatic ties exclusively with Eastern Bloc countries, along with the People's Republic of China and Vietnamese revolutionaries. During this time, North Korea's foreign policy was dictated by the Cold War and the country's conflict with South Korea.
In the 1960s and 1970s, North Korea began reaching out to Third World countries emerging from colonialism, competing with South Korea for diplomatic recognition and legitimacy. This was also the period when North Korea's nuclear program began with Soviet help, and the country joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s marked another shift in North Korea's foreign policy. The country increased diplomatic contact with capitalist countries, including the United States, Japan, Britain, and other European nations. This period also saw the beginning of dialogue with longtime foes, such as South Korea and Japan, and the first Inter-Korean summit in 2000. However, tensions over North Korea's nuclear program also escalated during this time, with the country conducting its first nuclear test in 2006.
In the 2010s, North Korea stepped out onto the world stage, with Kim Jong Un meeting with world leaders such as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. However, talks with Trump failed to lead to a nuclear deal, and by the end of 2019, North Korea had retreated into isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic further isolated the country, as it sealed its borders from all traffic of people and goods.
In recent years, North Korea's foreign policy has been characterized by a continued focus on independence and a volatile relationship with South Korea, including the official "ruling out" of unification by Kim Jong Un in 2024. North Korea currently maintains diplomatic relations with 160-164 independent states, although the number of diplomatic missions in Pyongyang has decreased in recent years.
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North Korea's response to Trump's aggressive rhetoric
Trump's rhetoric towards North Korea was considered by some analysts and former officials to be particularly dangerous, given the advances in North Korea's weapons capabilities. Jon Wolfsthal, Barack Obama's special assistant on arms control and nonproliferation, stated that Trump was "adding fuel to the fire". Experts warned that the aggressive rhetoric could backfire, convincing Kim Jong-un that his regime was in jeopardy and triggering a pre-emptive attack.
Trump's approach to North Korea marked a significant break from his predecessor's policy. He alternated between suggesting diplomatic talks and dismissing them entirely. In 2018, Trump and Kim held an unprecedented summit in Singapore, which represented a rare opportunity for North Korea to secure international legitimacy and economic relief. However, the failure of subsequent talks in Hanoi in 2019 left Kim embittered and disillusioned, and he has since adopted a more aggressive nuclear posture.
In the second term of the Trump administration, North Korea's turn towards Russia poses a significant challenge. Kim Jong-un's decision to deploy troops to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine marks a departure from the country's historical pattern of autarky and self-defence. This indicates the emergence of a more aggressive, Moscow-oriented North Korea, which could disrupt the fragile peace on the Korean peninsula.
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North Korea's relations with South Korea
North and South Korea have had a tumultuous relationship since the Korean Peninsula was formally divided in 1948, with both nations claiming sovereignty over the entire region. The two countries engaged in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, which ended in an armistice agreement but without a peace treaty, leaving North Korea in military confrontation with South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
In the early years following the division, North Korea maintained exclusive diplomatic ties with communist countries, while South Korea was recognized by the United Nations and several Western states. North Korea's foreign relations were heavily influenced by its historical ties to the Soviet Union and China, with the USSR providing economic and military aid that enabled North Korea's invasion of South Korea in 1950.
Over time, North Korea expanded its diplomatic relations, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, reaching out to newly independent nations in Africa and Asia. During this period, North-South dialogue commenced, and both countries began receiving diplomatic recognition from countries outside their respective ideological blocs. South Korea ended its policy of maintaining exclusive diplomatic ties with countries that did not recognize North Korea, allowing for further expansion of diplomatic outreach for both nations.
Despite efforts towards reconciliation, relations between North and South Korea have often been marked by tension and hostility. North Korea has consistently demanded the withdrawal of US troops from South Korea and has pursued a nuclear weapons program, conducting multiple missile tests and declaring itself a nuclear state in 2017. These actions have led to international condemnation and sanctions, as well as heightened military tensions on the peninsula.
However, there have also been significant diplomatic breakthroughs between the two nations. In 2000, Kim Dae-jung became the first President of South Korea to visit North Korea, adopting the Sunshine Policy to promote peaceful relations. This policy was continued by Roh Moo-hyun, who met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2007 and signed a declaration to pursue peace and improve inter-Korean relations. In 2018, North Korea participated in the Winter Olympics in South Korea, and the two nations marched together in the opening ceremony, symbolizing a warming of relations. The Seoul-Pyongyang hotline was reopened, and the leaders of both countries held summits to discuss peace initiatives and improved relations with the United States.
While negotiations have stalled and relations have deteriorated at times, there have been ongoing efforts from both sides to improve diplomatic ties and work towards reunification, as indicated by surveys showing a majority of South Korean citizens favoring unification.
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Frequently asked questions
North Korea maintains diplomatic relations with 160 states, although it does not have diplomatic relations with the US. In 2024, Kim Jong Un officially ruled out unification with South Korea.
North Korea's foreign policy has been marked by several distinct stages since its establishment in 1948. Initially, it maintained exclusive diplomatic ties with Eastern Bloc countries. In the 1960s and 1970s, it reached out to Third World countries, competing with South Korea for diplomatic recognition. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it increased contact with capitalist countries.
North Korea has often responded positively to US diplomacy, with negotiations taking place under various administrations. However, there have also been setbacks, such as the collapse of the Agreed Framework in 2001 and the failure to reach a nuclear deal in 2018 and 2019.
The Agreed Framework was a 1994 agreement between the US and North Korea aimed at freezing and eventually dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program. However, it collapsed due to slow progress and political opposition in the US.
North Korea has generally been receptive to diplomatic efforts from other countries, particularly those in the Third World. It has established diplomatic relations with many countries in Africa and Asia and has joined the Non-Aligned Movement.
